New South Wales has recorded 345 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
The numbers are down slightly on yesterday's tally of 372, but still higher than previous days when the totals were in the 200s.
Yesterday's minor spike came about a week and a half after NSW's first "freedom day" on October 11.
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Health authorities and Premier Dominic Perrottet have said it is expected cases would rise as the state re-opened, but the more important numbers to focus on would be hospitalisations and deaths.
NSW will remove the travel barrier between Greater Sydney and the regions on November 1, while restrictions for unvaccinated residents are set to end on December 1.
Mr Perrottet also said this morning he wants the border with Victoria as soon as possible.
"We're working very closely with the Victorian government," he said.
He said the challenge was that November 1 was the date earmarked to re-open Sydney to regional NSW.
"We want to have that (NSW-Victoria) border open as quickly as possible. We'll have something to say about that shortly," Mr Perrottet said.
Mr Perrottet also announced two new initiatives for the state yesterday, including a $96 million research facility dedicated to developing mRNA drugs vaccines, and a $250 "thank-you" voucher for parents of school-aged kids.
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The Premier said the research facility signalled NSW's determination to be on the "cutting edge".
"I really think this demonstrates the shift in the NSW government over the last few years to very much focus on research and development, particularly medicine and medical research," Mr Perrottet said.
Construction is set to begin within the next 12 months.
