Health Minister Robin Swann has announced the removal of all remaining Covid restrictions in Northern Ireland from tomorrow.
These include the scrapping of Covid passports in all settings and the wearing of face masks.
They will be moved from regulations to guidance.
It comes after Stormont ministers gave their "unanimous support" to Mr Swann on the easing of restrictions.
Mr Swann, who has himself tested positive for Covid-19, was advised last week on the potential legal complications of him replacing the regulations with guidance, without the wider endorsement of an Executive.
He wrote to other ministers asking for their input and for them to respond by Monday.
In a statement on Monday evening, Mr Swann said he would be making an order on Tuesday to revoke the remaining restrictions, including face coverings.
He added: "There are only a small number of restrictions left in place in those regulations, including requirements to wear face coverings in public places; for business owners to have measures in place to limit transmission of the virus; for the use of Covid certification at nightclubs and large unseated indoor events; and for limits on numbers meeting indoors in private homes.
"In light of the current situation, and remembering the commitment that restrictions would only be in place as long as they are needed, I have decided that those remaining measures should no longer be set out in regulations."
Mr Swann is continuing to work from home and joined the Assembly by video link on Monday.
He had to consider whether removing restrictions would cut across the responsibilities of any other ministers, and was expected to receive further legal guidance and public health assessments before reaching his decision.
The present Covid-19 regulations in Northern Ireland are not due to expire until March 24, but were previously reviewed by the Executive every three weeks.
Northern Ireland has no functioning Executive after the DUP removed Paul Givan as first minister, as part of a protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Earlier Sinn Fein's Michelle O’Neill said Mr Swann had a "big job ahead" of him, but said she expected an announcement imminently on the easing of restrictions.
She added: "I am glad that there has been unanimous support for him to move forward in terms of the Covid restrictions.
"Backed up by the health advice that we are now in a space where hopefully we are able to see the easement of restrictions and a bit more of normality return. We will continue to work with the health minister in that regard."
Meanwhile, two more people who had previously tested positive for Covid-19 have died in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health said.
Another 2,465 confirmed cases of the virus have also been notified in the last 24-hour reporting period.
On Monday there were 437 Covid-19 in-patients, with 13 in intensive care.
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