It comes after the Anzac Day Commemorative Committee and RSL Victoria today decided to scale back services and request that members of the public pay their respects from home.

Victorian RSL sub-branches will be asked to conduct a single Anzac Day commemorative service, which members of the public will be requested not to attend.

The Anzac Day march through the Melbourne CBD will be cancelled, as will be the midday service at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance.

There will be a dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance, but it will be closed to the public and modified to minimise the risk of spreading COVID-19. A small number of official guests will be invited to attend.

RSL Victoria state president Dr Robert Webster said Anzac Day this year would not look like years past.

"There will be a service, wreaths will be laid, the Last Post will still be played, a minute's silence in memory of the fallen will be held, but the public will be asked to stay at home," Dr Webster said.

"This is not a decision that the RSL takes lightly, but public health and safety must be our priority."

RSL Victoria asked that members of the public tune in to services via radio, social media or television and take a moment to reflect on the service and sacrifice of veterans and those still serving today.

It was working with the Shrine of Remembrance and broadcasters to ensure the service was televised.

"The most important thing is that together we remember our pledge as a nation, Lest We Forget," Dr Webster said.

Bendigo District RSL president Peter Swandale expected the sub-branch would finalise its plans for Anzac Day within the next few days.

"We are still in the planning stage," he said.

We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we want to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.