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NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has appealed to his Liberal colleagues to back him for the top job of premier after striking a deal to make Stuart Ayres his deputy.

After behind-the-scenes factional wrangling for much of the weekend, Mr Perrottet announced on Sunday he would seek to become the next premier.

The Epping MP entered NSW parliament in 2011 - then as Castle Hill MP - and served as finance minister before becoming treasurer.

The father of six is a member of the Liberal Party's right faction while Mr Ayres, the jobs minister, is from the dominant moderate faction.

Mr Perrottet also proposes making Environment Minister Matt Kean the NSW treasurer, if he wins.

The Liberal party room will next meet on Tuesday to vote on their new leader.

"NSW will come through this difficult time just as it did last year, to not just recover but come out the other side stronger," Mr Perrottet said on Sunday.

"That's all about ensuring we keep people safe, as we have, keep people in jobs, keep businesses open and importantly, get kids back to school."

Mr Perrottet, 39, on Monday hardened his pitch, playing up his credentials working alongside the popular Gladys Berejiklian, who will stand down once a new leader is confirmed, saying he would bring unity.

"I am asking for my colleagues' support to lead the government with Stuart Ayres as deputy," he wrote in an opinion piece published in The Daily Telegraph on Monday.

"As Gladys demonstrated so well, leading a successful Liberal and National government requires unity across our party's 'broad church'," he said.

"We can only do that if we remain united, and maintain stability and continuity for the people of our state."

Planning Minister Rob Stokes, 47, the member for Pittwater, is the only other senior NSW cabinet minister seen as a serious contender for the premier job.

Mr Stokes on Monday, also writing in the Telegraph, said he would bring experience and integrity to the job.

"I also believe I am the NSW government's best chance of winning the next election," he said.

"I owe it to those who want to continue the Liberal and National vision for NSW to be a candidate for my colleagues to choose from."

Former prime minister and Liberal party elder John Howard on the weekend backed Mr Perrottet, saying he was driven and reform-focused.

Ms Berejiklian announced she would resign after the state's corruption watchdog disclosed the 51-year-old was under investigation for potential breaches of public trust.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption is investigating whether Ms Berejiklian "exercised public functions" in a position of conflict given her secret five-year relationship with ex-MP Daryl Maguire.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance on Sunday announced he would resign from NSW parliament to run for the federal seat of Gilmore on the south coast at the next national election.

© AAP 2021

Quarantine periods for fully vaccinated COVID-19 close community contacts will be shortened from 14 days to seven days when NSW begins to ease restrictions at 70 per cent double-dose jab coverage.

NSW on Sunday reported 667 new local cases and 10 deaths, the first time daily case numbers have been below 700 since August 19.

Across the state, 88.4 per cent of people aged 16 and over have received a first vaccine, and 67.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.

At 70 per cent double-dose vaccination coverage, several current restrictions are set to ease. This will be triggered on October 11.

Under updated health advice issued on Sunday, vaccinated close contacts of a positive COVID-19 case must get tested and isolate for seven days. This includes household contacts, as well as close social contacts.

But they must work from home for the following week where possible and not attend hospitality or high-risk settings, even if for work.

Unvaccinated close contacts of a positive COVID-19 case must get tested and isolate for 14 days, as is current practice in NSW.

Anyone who tests positive in NSW must still isolate for 14 days and all people must still seek COVID-19 testing with respiratory symptoms.

Businesses will be responsible for taking "reasonable measures to stop unvaccinated people entering premises" such as having prominent signs, QR code requirements and only accepting valid proof of vaccination.

Hospitality, retail, gyms, hairdressers and beauty salons will be monitored by authorised officers and on-the-spot fines of $1000 will apply to individuals who do not comply or use fraudulent vaccination records.

Businesses may be fined $5000 for breaching the rules.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Brad Hazzard warned people to be careful and respect restrictions while enjoying the NRL grand final on Sunday night.

"You shouldn't be having people at home," he told reporters, reiterating household gatherings prompted greater COVID-19 transmission.

Of the 10 deaths in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday, four people were not vaccinated, four had received one dose and two were fully vaccinated.

The deaths take the toll for the current outbreak to 372.

There are currently 981 COVID-19 patients in hospital in NSW, with 195 in intensive care units and 93 on ventilators. Mr Hazzard said a child aged under nine was among those in intensive care.

NSW Health later on Sunday also announced the Lismore local government area would from Monday go back into lockdown for a week after COVID-19 transmission was uncovered in the area.

NSW Health has also detected virus fragments in sewage at Kingscliff and Banora Point in far northern NSW.

Casino is in lockdown, with stay-at-home orders applicable to anyone who has visited the northern NSW town since September 24.

Mr Hazzard on Sunday also insisted the resignation of Premier Gladys Berejiklian would not change the roadmap out of lockdown. Dominic Perrottet and Rob Stokes have nominated to replace her.

"She has been absolutely critical to the team," Mr Hazzard said.

"But that doesn't mean the NSW Health team and the rest of the NSW government won't continue to do what we need to do."

Meanwhile, non-urgent day surgery will restart in NSW private health facilities on Tuesday as transmission rates continue to fall. However, non-urgent procedures at NSW public hospitals will remain postponed.

© AAP 2021

Want to win a million dollars? Well, it's as easy as getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

That's what's up for grabs for a lucky Australian as part of newly launched initiative dubbed the "Million Dollar Vax campaign".

The campaign will give away $4.1 million worth of prizes, with the big ticket item of $1 million in cash drawn on November 5. Some 3100 $1000 gift cards will also be drawn throughout October.

Funded by philanthropists and corporations, the campaign aims to boost national vaccination rates above 80 per cent, a key reopening target under the national plan.

But Craig Winkler of the Million Dollar Vax Alliance says it is not designed to convince vaccine hesitant Australians to get the jab.

"The promotion simply seeks to reward people who decide to be vaccinated now rather than waiting," he said in a statement on Sunday.

"The faster we reach higher vaccination rates nationally, higher than 80 per cent, the sooner we all can safely resume our full range of community and business activity."

Australia's vaccination rates have soared in recent months as supply issues eased, with 79.4 per cent of the 16-plus population having received at least a first dose and 56.5 per cent double dosed.

The federal government had been considering incentives to encourage Australians to get the jab before lockdown-inducing outbreaks of the highly infectious Delta variant in NSW and Victoria.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has endorsed the concept after his state announced a mandate for more than a million authorised workers.

"It's great. I'm not fussed on what motivates you, whether it is for your health or to help the people you love, to protect our health system and our nurses, or to win $1 million," he told reporters on Sunday.

"Just go get vaccinated. That is what I am asking because it is our way out of this."

The initiative is inspired by the Ohio 'Vax-A-Million' campaign in the US.

Philanthropy Australia chief executive Jack Heath hopes it will "save lives, ease the burden on healthcare workers, and benefit the wider community".

All Australian adults are eligible to enter the competition online, as long as they've received a first dose on or before October 31.

Prizes will only be dished out to those fully vaccinated by December 13, six weeks after the cut-off date.

© AAP 2021