Deputy Premier James Merlino said VCE exams would start about two weeks later than usual, after initial fears they could spill into 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Exams will start on November 9, with the last test on December 2.

VCE and VCAL certificates, as well as ATAR results, will be provided by the end of the year.

King's College principal Allister Rouse welcomed Friday's announcement.

"The original discussions about the exams suggested a time much later in December. This announcement means the year won't be dragged out for students and they'll know their ATAR by the end of the year," he said.

"The period of isolation, I think, works well for senior students and provides them with good training for the tertiary environment where a lot of courses are online. Students have been able to self-manage their learning and use time efficiently. I know this has worked well particularly for students who travel to get to school."

He said the school's year 12 cohort had been encouraging and supporting each other.

"The staff regularly check in on students through video conferencing for pastoral care," he said.

"The school captains also created care packages and sent them out to all their classmates so there have been good things happen.

"Our teachers connect with students at the start of the lesson and allow the students to work while keeping in regular contact.

"I'm hopeful for good results. It will be interesting to see how the results compare across the state."

Emmanuel College principal Peter Morgan hoped the news brought a sense of relief for students.

"The information regarding unit 3/4 exam and GAT dates were welcome news for Emmanuel College," he said.

"They provide clarity and certainty and allow the College to begin planning the many significant requirements that accompany year 12, including special events, such as Graduation.

"Emmanuel College and its staff are looking forward to welcoming year 11 and 12 students back into their classes and the company of their peers."

EARLIER: Twelve new people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Victoria, taking the state's total to 1593 cases.

Five of the new cases are linked to the Cedar Meats cluster, which now totals 111 people, and four are returned overseas travellers in hotel quarantine.

Two cases were identified via "community testing" and one remains under investigation, according to Deputy Premier James Merlino who announced the figures at a press conference this morning.

He said that VCE exams would start about two weeks later than usual, after initial fears they could spill into 2021.

Exams will start on November 9, with the last test on December 2.

VCE and VCAL certificates, as well as ATAR results, will be provided by the end of the year.

But Mr Merlino warned that not all students would receive special consideration.

"This provides much-needed certainty for our year 12 students who have done it tough this year and their families," Mr Merlino said.

"They can celebrate finalising their year 12 before the end of the year, enjoy the summer break and then plan for their futures.

"It will mean no disadvantage for Victorian students in terms of university and other pathways.

"When you think about the disruption to the world and to all our students this year as a result of COVID-19 that's an outstanding outcome," Mr Merlino said.

As of Friday, 10,000 school staff had been tested for COVID-19 and all had been cleared.

There are about 80,000 teachers registered across the state.

Year 11 and 12 students will be among the first to return to face-to-face learning from next Tuesday, May 26, along with prep and grades 1 and 2.Students in all other year levels will return on June 9.

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In other news, retailing group Wesfarmers will shut up to 75 Target stores and convert another 92 to Kmart stores in a massive restructure of the struggling discount department chain.

Between 10 and 40 large format Target stores will be converted to Kmarts, subject to landlord support.

An additional 52 Target Country stores, which are primarily located in regional areas, will also be converted to small-format Kmart stores.

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