More than 1500 Victorians have applied for exemptions to the state's border closure with NSW, but so far authorities have granted just 117.

A hard border between the two states came into effect on Friday night, requiring anyone returning after then to be approved and undergo 14 days hotel quarantine.

Victoria has recorded three new locally acquired coronavirus cases with another additional case came from hotel quarantine, bringing the total number of active cases in the state to 36. NSW recorded no new cases.

"In terms of when will the border change and when will the restrictions change, that's all based on the public health advice, based on the circumstances on the ground here in Victoria," Ms Allan told reporters.

"Also testing is a really important input into that ... the number of tests taken each day will help guide decisions,

"High testing numbers and low case numbers [are] providing us with this situation now where we can be optimistic. But it is a dangerous and difficult virus, and it can move around the community quickly.

"There is a reason to be optimistic, but we do have to be cautious in our optimism."

End of life visits and funerals are among the reasons health authorities have approved applications, which also require a negative coronavirus test to be accepted.

Applications are taking up to 48 hours to consider. Nearly half have had further documentation requested.

All the community transmission cases are tied back to the Buffalo Smile Thai restaurant at Black Rock, in bayside Melbourne.

There are 2765 close contacts of those infected who are currently in isolation, including 2406 people who were primary contacts.The cluster, seeded from NSW's northern beaches outbreak, prompted a swift crackdown by the state government on border rules.

More than 60,000 Victorians rushed back from NSW, all requiring testing on their return.

That's put testing facilities under strain, forcing some sites to extend testing hours and for some staff to be recalled from holidays to meet the extra demand.Testing capacity was boosted by almost half, taking total sites on Sunday to 190.

That included opening pop up sites, additional drive through services and boosting capacity at existing locations.Capacity is expected to increase again on Monday.

Premier Daniel Andrews, away on leave, urged returning Victorians to follow individual advice from the Department of Health and Human Services.

"If you need support to isolate - whether that's financial, food or anything else - call the hotline and we'll make sure you get it," he tweeted on Monday.

The huge volume of people getting tested saw more than 22,000 tests processed on Saturday.Nearly four million tests have been performed in Victoria over the last 12 months.