More than 190 COVID-19 testing sites are open across Victoria today health minister Martin Foley said long wait times should be expected.

More than 18,000 people were tested in Victoria yesterday.

"We thank the people who came forward yesterday, it is the most important thing we can do," he said.

"We have seen staff come back and assist in how we deliver testing to make sure the 190 sites open and operating have extended hours. People should visit the DHHS website to monitor the best locations in which to get tested."

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Mr Foley said anyone with the slightest symptoms should come forward and be tested.

"The virus does not respect state borders, the virus does not respect holiday periods," he said. "The virus doesn't respect many things and we need make sure to stay ahead of this cluster and take all the necessary measures we can to ensure we bring it under control as soon as possible. I'm confident we will."

10.20am

Health minister Martin Foley has made no apologies for the hard border closure with NSW saying it was a decision made on public health advice.

The border is now closed to NSW with Victorians still on the north side of the Murray River unable to cross back to Victoria with an exemption permit.

"For returning Victorians, the border now closed to returning travellers," Mr Foley said. "As I indicated yesterday, we have been consistent for some time now that the deteriorating position in NSW was of significant concern.

"I make no apologies for closing the border but acknowledge the significant disruption and implications that it has made.

"We intend to work with the cross-border community (in the next few days) to land on precisely what the bubble arrangement will be."

Victoria's COVID testing chief Jeroen Weimar said local government areas on either side of the Voictorian-NSW border would be able to travel between the two states.

"We will continue operate bubbles in local government areas on either side of the Murray who can travel freely to protect (the economy)," he said.

Mr Weimar said returning travellers with important or special needs could apply for exemptions through the DHHS website.

He stressed people must apply for exemption permits and have them confirmed before arriving at the borders.

"Anyone in NSW must apply for exemption online before hand," he said. "It will take 24 to 48 hours to have the exemption reviewed and to have conversations (with the applicant) and agree whether they can or can't come back.

"I understand how complex and distressing it will be for some people caught on the wrong side of border but I ask people to complete the exemption process before you come anyway near a border or an airplane.

"People will be directed to specific crossing points."

Mr Foley confirmed active Victorian coronavirus cases are now up to 29 following 12 new cases overnight.

He said genomic sequencing results had established the Victorian cluster being directly linked to the NSW cluster.

"Ten are locally acquired, all of which are linked to the Black Rock cluster," he said. "Two of these 10 include the NSW cases that our NSW colleagues announced yesterday. (Those two) are now back in Melbourne and isolating.

"A further two cases are in hotel quarantine. One is a member of an international air crew and one is an international returned traveller."

9.35am

Victoria has recorded twelve new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours.

The Department of Health and Human Services' daily update showed 10 of the cases were locally acquired while two were from overseas.

People continue to come for for testing with 18,337 test results received in the past 24 hours.

There are currently 29 active COVID-19 cases in Victoria.

The latest DHHS update comes as Victoria's border with NSW closed last night.

Many travellers made a dash for the border when the announcement of the closure came through. It resulted in long lines of cars, trucks and caravans trying to cross the Murray River back into Victoria.

As Victorians returned to their home state, they also pushed to get tested.

Bendigo Health's COVID-19 testing site endured long wait times yesterday with hundreds eager to be tested for the coronavirus.

A list of 28 exposures sites has been compiled by the state government. Anyone who has been at these sites on the dates and times specified should isolate and get tested as soon as possible.

The list of exposure sites compiled by DHHS can be found at www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/case-locations-and-outbreaks.

For more information, phone the COVID-19 hotline on 1800 675 398.

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