The government is working with businesses to determine a path out of lockdown which is likely to include easing rules on contactless delivery and click and collect for non-essential services.

But now is not the time, Mr Barr cautioned.

"At this point of our outbreak, it is not appropriate to be easing restrictions, unless we want to find ourselves in the position that NSW is in and still be having these questions and these press conferences in two months' time where instead of having 22 new cases, we have 600 new cases," he said.

"I am not going down that path. I'm listening to the public health advice."

The lockdown, due to end on September 2, has brought an end to all non-urgent construction and forced the closure of most retail services.

Hospitality venues can only offer takeaway.

The forestry industry, which was initially deemed non-essential has had a reversal after lobbying from the Australian Forest Products Association.

"Forestry and sawmilling in the ACT critically support the supply chain of many essential products, especially in NSW," chief executive Ross Hampton said.

Canberra Business Chamber chief executive Graham Catt said the situation is significantly different this year, because businesses don't have the opportunity to get creative since JobKeeper payments were cut off.

"[Last year] we talking about about the the pivot, businesses used those payments because they had staff that were employed ... and attached to the business," Mr Catt said.

"That gave people the opportunity to try different models.

"As we transition out of this process I don't think we will see, to the same extent, businesses being able to offer takeaway or change the business, because we don't have that underpinning JobKeeper support."

Business and worker support is welcomed but Mr Catt said it would only cover operating costs for businesses to "effectively be dormant" through lockdown.

Employees are also eligible for support which is handed directly to them, removing the link with an employer JobKeeper maintained.

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Mr Catt hoped restrictions could begin to safely ease from September 2 and a move towards contactless delivery and then click and collect for non-essential services could begin.

It had to be done safely, and at the right time, Mr Catt said.

Businesses had pulled through a difficult 2020, and trade had boomed early this year but it call came to a halt as the outbreak in Sydney worsened in June.

Mr Barr said work was ongoing with businesses and the construction industry.

"We're not going to put public health at risk and undo all of the effort of the entire community to stamp out this outbreak," he said.

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