More than $2 billion will be pumped into the NSW economy to counter the financial havoc caused by the global coronavirus pandemic as dozens of venues close and events are cancelled to combat the spread.
It comes as the number of COVID-19 cases in NSW passes 200.
The $2.3 billion stimulus package consists of $700 million for health care and $1.6 billion for job creation and tax relief.
Major features include capital works investments, payroll tax relief and waiving charges and licence fees for small businesses.
The $700 million for health services will help ramp up COVID-19 testing, establish dedicated fever clinics and double intensive care capacity.
“Our approach in relation to dollars in NSW will be first and foremost to save lives,”Ms Berejiklian said in Sydney on Tuesday.
“I don’t ever want to look back and think we should have done more. I want a no-regrets policy.”
As companies increasingly ask staff to work from home, Pymble Ladies College on Sydney’s upper north shore said it will move to online learning from Thursday.
School principal Kate Hadwen and college council chair James Hunter said while no one had been diagnosed with coronavirus a number of staff and students were awaiting test results.
“This decision takes on board feedback from the government which is concerned that closing our school could result in healthcare workers and others on the frontline being unable to attend work due to the need to stay home and care for their children,” the school said in an update to parents.
NSW authorities are hoping a series of unprecedented measures will help contain the rapid spread of infection.
Residents flouting a ban on mass gatherings could be fined $11,000 or jailed for up to six months.
Ms Berejiklian said parliament would still need to meet to enact laws but would take appropriate social distancing measures.
Lobby group Business NSW embraced the government’s economic stimulus measures saying they would aid the business community.
NSW Labor also welcomed the package but said it didn’t go far enough for small businesses.
“It is those mum and dad businesses that have two to five employees that are doing it tough right now,” opposition leader Jodi McKay said in Sydney.
“Those businesses have been left behind in this stimulus package.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard says the state is on track to experience a “substantial exponential increase” in coronavirus infections.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW almost doubled over the weekend and on Tuesday morning reached 210.
Macquarie University in Sydney’s northwest confirmed on Monday a student had been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Campus areas have been intensively cleaned overnight.
The university had earlier on Tuesday announced the suspension of classes from March 18 with teaching to resume on March 30.
It comes as the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday cancelled all public performances until March 29.
Australian Fashion Week – scheduled for May at Sydney’s Carriageworks – has also been cancelled.
Music festival Splendour in the Grass has been postponed from July until October, while Groovin the Moo was cancelled outright.
RSL NSW on Monday cancelled all public Anzac Day services across the state. The Sydney Writers’ Festival has also been cancelled.
Over the weekend the Sydney Lyric Theatre announced it would remain closed to audiences until April 18 while the Capitol Theatre announced a number of shows in March and April are cancelled.
There are now almost 400 coronavirus cases across Australia.
AAP