From 5pm on Tuesday, the boarding houses at SASC closed, with students either returning home to their parents or seeking alternative accommodation in Bathurst.

SASC Director of Community Engagement and Marketing, Mel Monico, said the decision to close the boarding houses was made in the best interest of students', teachers' and parents' health.

"The community has been overwhelming supportive of the students, with some moving in with day students and travelling to school with them," she said.

"Luckily no one has been affected by coronavirus at school.

"We've had to move very quickly in the past few days and our academic team is meeting regularly.

"We're encouraging students to keep in contact with the school and we want them to feel connected while they might not be here."

The roughly 140 boarders from year 7-12 who have had to leave school have access to online learning.

"We had advice come through from federal and state health authorities that if anyone becomes sick in a boarding house, those boarding houses would have to be locked down," Ms Monico said.

"That would affect all staff and students. The Head of College made the decision that it would not be good for staff and students to be put in that situation and we didn't want to put parents in that situation too."

SASC has been strongly promoting social distancing and good hygiene, while before and after school activities, including inter-sport activities, have been cancelled.

The school's production of Annie, which was meant to premiere this month, has also been cancelled.

Bathurst's other school with boarding - St Stanislaus' College - has not closed its on-school accommodation, but Head of College Lindsay Luck saying some parents have already pulled their students out of boarding.

"Only less than a quarter have made that decision," he said.

"We fully support the parents decision and the school is well placed to go to online learning if anything changes in the future."

On Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the disruption from closing down schools during the coronavirus pandemic would be "severe".

Despite some calls for shutdowns, public schools across Australia will remain open.

"As a father I'm happy for my kids to go to school," Mr Morrison said.

"There's only one reason why your kids shouldn't be going to school, if they are unwell."

Mr Morrison said the disruption from closing down schools would be "severe" on Australia's economy and workforce.

"Any measure you put in place you must be prepared to put in place for six months, maybe longer," he said.

"There is a national public interest in keeping schools open."