The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canberra has jumped from nine to 20 over the past day, prompting the ACT Government to move to shutdown non-essential services and introduce "pupil-free" schools from Tuesday.

Key points: Over the next two days non-essential services will be closed across the ACT

Over the next two days non-essential services will be closed across the ACT All ACT schools will move to "pupil-free days" from Tuesday

All ACT schools will move to "pupil-free days" from Tuesday The ACT Government says it would be "impossible" for the territory to have rules different to NSW

The ACT's chief health officer, Kerryn Coleman, said on Sunday afternoon that 10 Canberrans had been confirmed as newly infected — seven men and three women aged between 21 and 67.

Hours later she announced that one more case had been identified — a student from Lyneham High School.

Dr Coleman said the student had been to school on Tuesday last week while they may have been infectious.

She said Lyneham High School would be closed on today as a result while the school was cleaned and while ACT Health could conduct "contact tracing".

All other ACT schools will remain open for today.

However, Education Minister Yvette Berry said all ACT schools — government and private — will move to "pupil-free" days from Tuesday until the beginning of the school holidays.

Ms Berry said teachers and staff would still be at the schools, "preparing to move to a different kind of learning".

This will provide schools and teachers with time to prepare for a range of learning delivery options, including online, similar to how distance education is provided in remote areas," she said.

"The ACT is digitally aware and able to move to online education."

Ms Berry said face-to-face learning would still be available to children who need it, however did not clarify how those children would be defined.

She said more information would be available on Monday.

ACT to shutdown non-essential services over the next 48 hours

In the wake of the new numbers, Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the ACT would follow Victoria and New South Wales in moving to shut down non-essential services over the next 48 hours.

On Monday morning, Mr Barr said the closure would be in line with measures announced by the Prime Minister following the meeting of National Cabinet.

Mr Barr said despite measures to discourage social interaction, there were still too many instances where people were exposing themselves to contracting the virus.

"We must also face the reality that, as a territory within NSW, it would be impossible for the ACT to have different arrangements than those in our surrounding region," he said.

"We will ensure that Canberrans continue to have access to the services they need — supermarkets, petrol stations, banks, pharmacies, post offices and convenience stores.

"Freight and logistics will also be considered as an essential service. Over the next 48 hours, we will define these essential services and work closely with retailers on their requirements."

Canberrans urged not to leave Canberra region

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Barr urged all Canberrans to avoid all non-essential travel.

"The only travel outside of the Canberra region should be for work, for compassionate reasons, and to ensure the essential supplies and services that our region needs," he said.

"This means no holidays on the south coast this Easter or school holidays, it means no weekends in Sydney or Melbourne.

"Visiting family and friends outside of the Canberra region needs to be carefully considered, and if it is not essential, don't do it."