NSW is on the brink of its most significant virus milestone yet, expected to reach its target of 70 per cent of over-16s fully vaccinated on Wednesday afternoon.

That will trigger the return of a host freedoms from this coming Monday, including larger gatherings and the reopening of shops and hospitality businesses.

The state was almost certain to tick over the crucial dose on Wednesday, after sitting on 69.1 per cent in the last official figures released by the federal government.

It will be the first jurisdiction in Australia to hit one of the crucial targets ahead of reopening.

Australia’s vaccination rates by state and territory, as at Tuesday. Image: Federal Health Department

The milestone came as new Premier Dominic Perrottet signalled looming changes to NSW’s roadmap out of its lengthy virus lockdown.

Ahead of the swearing in of new NSW Nationals leader Paul Toole as the state’s deputy premier on Wednesday, Mr Perrotet confirmed Monday would remain the first reopening day, but other changes were likely.

“It is the right decision to not set a date at the outset, but it is good to set a vaccination target – and we want to make sure every person across our state goes out there and is incentivised to get vaccinated so that we can open up our economy,” he said.

“At the cabinet meeting this afternoon there will be further discussions in relation to the road map.”

NSW had 594 new local virus cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, its lowest daily number since August.

There were also the deaths of seven men and three women, bringing the number of people who have died in its latest outbreak to 395.

Navigating the reopening is the biggest challenge for the state’s new leadership team.

Greater Sydney has been locked down for more than 15 weeks, and lobby group Business NSW wants a panel established to consider financial support for small businesses.

Business NSW chief executive Daniel Hunter said the panel would consider proposals for businesses that did not qualify for hardship packages.

“There is concern amongst the business community that some may ‘fall through the cracks’ when it comes to the support packages,” Mr Hunter said

Among other changes due on Monday are:

• Ditching the five-kilometre from home travel limit;
• Allowing five visitors into home and up to 50 guests at outdoor weddings and funerals;
• Gyms, indoor recreation and sporting facilities (excluding indoor pools) will reopen;
• Hospitality venues, retail and other businesses can reopen, all operating at the one-person-per-four-square-metre rule indoors and two-square-metre rule outdoors;
• Personal services (including hairdressers, spas, beauty and nail salons, tattoo and massage parlours) reopen for up to five clients;
• Schools will reopen;
• Outdoor gatherings will increase to 20 people, though unvaccinated residents will still only be allowed to gather in groups of two;
• Places of worship can reopen with density limits.

NSW chief deputy health officer Marianne Gale said on Wednesday she was pleased to see cases falling as vaccination rates rose.

“Thank you everybody for your ongoing terrific efforts in coming forward to get vaccinated, it’s really pleasing to see such high coverage of vaccination across the state,” she said.

She also flagged regional areas of concern as Jindabyne, Figtree, Merewether, Wallsend, Cessnock, and Blue Haven, where residents should remain vigilant for symptoms, testing and getting vaccinated.

“It is really important that as we open up, we all act cautiously, and that we continue to follow the revised health advice that will apply as we progressively follow the roadmap,” she said.

There are 959 patients in NSW hospitals, with 188 people in intensive care and 93 who require ventilation.

-with AAP