Prime Minister Scott Morrison is banking on "three rings of containment" stopping the Victorian coronavirus surge turning into a national outbreak.
From midnight tonight, metropolitan Melbourne goes into stage three lockdown for six weeks.
Mr Morrison called the stringent lockdown of specific Melbourne suburbs the "first ring" of defence.
Beyond that, the looming lockdown of metropolitan Melbourne, which includes the Mitchell Shire, will act as a second ring, Mr Morrison said.
The final barrier, which Mr Morrison said essentially puts the state of Victoria into "self-isolation", was the NSW-Victoria border closure.
"As each of those rings does its job, it puts less pressure on the ring external to it," Mr Morrison said.
However, the prime minister foreshadowed the surge in Victoria and Australia's battle against the pandemic could last through to Christmas and into 2021.
"There are no guarantees in a global pandemic. You have to deal with the situations that are in front of you," he said.
"That's why we need to continue to apply or focus on our effort and work together as we did in March and in April and in May and in June and so we will do it in July, August, September, October, November, December, and into next year if necessary."
Asked if he would reimpose some of the nationwide restrictions if the situation escalated, Mr Morrison said "that's not the advice" he was recieving.
"That is not something that is being put to me now," the prime minister said.
"Let's remember that seven states and territories around the country remain in a very strong position when it comes to our response to COVID-19.
"That's what we're seeking to continue to protect."
Mr Morrison said NSW Premier Gladys Berejikilian was acutely aware of how important it was to stop infections creeping across the border.
Earlier today it was declared that more than 1200 police officers under Operation Sentinel will form a kind of ring of steel around metropolitan Melbourne to enforce the lockdown.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said there would be a "huge police presence" on main arterial roads heading out of Melbourne.
READ MORE: What do Stage Three lockdown restrictions mean for Melbourne?
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