NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant says the state should prepare for a "zig and zag" approach to easing the coronavirus restrictions, where certain liberties could be trialled and peeled back if there is a spike in virus cases.

She also held out an olive branch to business owners who are doing it tough during the shutdown, saying there may be ways to reopen some parts of the economy if businesses can demonstrate they could operate while enforcing vital social distancing measures.

Charting a course through the crisis: NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant at NSW Health headquarters on Friday. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

In an interview with The Sun-Herald, Dr Chant said she will spend the next fortnight – the school holidays in NSW – diving deep into the data, particularly studies that will guide the government on its approach to schools in term 2 and give parents "confidence" that schools are safe.

"Being very clear to the community what schooling looks like in term 2 is clearly something we're working on," she said. "I think we need to give parents – and teachers – confidence that school is a safe environment."