It comes after Premier Daniel Andrews declared the state of emergency on Monday to enforce the national 14-day isolation sanctions on all travellers coming into Australia, earlier announced by the prime minister.
Anyone returning from overseas will have to self-isolate or risk fines of up to $20,000, while police officers will have the power to can detain people, restrict movement and prevent entry to premises.
Mr Andrews said it would be unwise to disregard the instructions.
“Not only are you putting the health of your loved ones and every family across Victoria at risk, but you’re also breaking the law,” he told reporters on Monday.
Schools have not been told to close but many private schools across the state – including Ballarat Grammar, Carey Baptist Grammar School, Loreto Mandeville Hall, St Kevins and Yeshiva-Beth Rivkah College – have decided to.
Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton argued the decision not to close schools was based on how the disease presented in children, and to avoid busy health and emergency workers being forced to look after their children.
“For children under nine years of age, it is an extremely mild disease,” Mr Sutton said.
“My kids are in primary school and in childcare and I’m very happy for them to be there.”
Victoria’s coronavirus tally is now 71 after 14 new cases were confirmed. Five people are recovering in hospital.