The NSW government has met business leaders to strategise the revitalisation of post-pandemic Sydney, with a range of incentives to draw crowds back to the CBD on the table.
Speaking after the third Sydney CBD Summit on Friday, Premier Dominic Perrottet resisted pressure to promise his government would ease the few remaining COVID-19 restrictions by the end of the month.
"They were topics on the agenda, but ultimately ... that's a matter for a cabinet," he told reporters.
"This is about ensuring that when we do open up ... we come back strongly."
The rules, which include mandatory masks in office spaces, density limits on hospitality and a recommendation people work from home, have been extended until at least February 27.
Mr Perrottet praised industry leaders for their constructive ideas after calling previous meetings a "complaint fest".
Among the ideas floated were measures to cut red tape and discount public transport fares.
"We've considered providing discounted transport in the past, arising out of these summits, (but) I'm getting convinced today that this could be a way to go," he said.
Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott said the hospitality industry needed incredibly practical measures - such as dining incentives and extended trading hours - to help it bounce back.
Mr Perrottet said he was particularly keen to see life return to the city at weekends.
"There shouldn't be tumbleweeds rolling down Martin Place on the weekend," he said.
It comes as the state's health minister and top doctor face a grilling over the government's handling of the pandemic.
Brad Hazzard and Dr Kerry Chant will join other senior NSW Health staff, healthcare unions and academics before state parliament's public accountability committee on Friday.
It is the first hearing since September, as the state comes out of lockdown and weathers its Omicron wave.
The reopening of NSW and recent challenges facing the aged care and health sectors will be under scrutiny.
More than one million people had been infected in NSW and nearly 1200 had lost their lives since the most recent hearing, committee chair and Greens MP David Shoebridge said.
NSW reported 8950 new cases on COVID-19 on Friday, down 1180 from the previous reporting period.
The state also reported 19 COVID-19 related deaths, taking the toll in the past week to 141.
More than a third - 53 - were aged care residents, of whom only 18 had received three COVID-19 vaccine doses.
Some 1716 people are in hospital across the state - down 79 on the day before - with 108 in intensive care, a drop of 13.
Some 48 of them are ventilated.
Just more than half of those eligible for a booster shot in NSW have received one, while 44.6 per cent of primary school-aged children have had their first dose.
