"I'm not interested in closing our borders, I don't think that makes a lot of sense for us," he said.

"Albury Wodonga Health is run by us (the Victorian government), but the Albury hospital is on the other side of the border.

"I think there are issues about what is practical and what isn't."

South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania have all closed their borders, but Mr Andrews said Victoria would not have to get that point if people followed the rules about avoiding non-essential travel.

"I have no advice to close our borders and I think it might well be a drain on precious resources, because you can't have a rule and then not enforce it," he said.

The premier also warned there will be "amazing tragedy" if Victorians continued to act selfishly and gather, despite warnings to isolate as coronavirus spreads.

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Despite a statement on Sunday saying all non-essential activities in Victoria would be shut down, leaving many people in fear they would lose their jobs, the premier on Monday wound that back to be in line with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

He confirmed pubs, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, indoor sporting venues, churches and gyms would close from 12pm on Monday.

"This will hurt many people, I apologise for that by this is the only way that we can keep people safe - by flattening that curve, by suppressing the total number of people who finish up with coronavirus and ultimately reducing the number of people who will die," Mr Andrews said.

"Will we have to take further steps? I think almost certainly we will."

He urged people to keep their distance and stop gathering in groups, even outside of the closed venues.

"You won't be able to go to the pub because the pub is shut. That doesn't mean you can have all your mates around at home and get on the beers, that's not appropriate, that's not essential and it's not needed. All it will do is spread the virus," he said.

"If you won't do it for yourself, do it for the people in your community who you may never have met, but are our most vulnerable.

"Surely that's not too much to ask.

"Going to a mate's place for a barbecue is not essential - it's not against the law, but it's not essential.

"If you can work from home, you should."

School holidays in Victoria will start on Tuesday and Mr Andrews said parents should plan for term two to start on April 14, but warned the situation could change.

"We want our children to get an education for as long as we possibly can during the Covid-19 outbreak, and that's in line with medical advice," he said.

Teachers will use the time to plan for remote, flexible and distance learning to keep education going at a distance.

A Victoria Police taskforce of 500 officers has been created to do spot checks and ensure people are not gathering in groups, with the power to arrest or fine people.

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