The Stormont Executive has been urged to set out a "roadmap" for easing current Covid-19 restrictions.
It comes as the Scottish and Welsh governments begin to remove rules introduced at the start of the Omicron wave.
Ministers in Northern Ireland are expected to meet on Thursday to consider relaxing measures that have been in place since Christmas.
Senior health advisers are due to provide updated statistics and projections on the spread of the Omicron variant.
Ministers on December 22 announced a series of restrictions on the hospitality sector, including the closure of nightclubs from Boxing Day onward.
Venues such as pubs are also required to provide table service only, with a maximum of six people allowed to sit together.
In Scotland, nightclubs will reopen and curbs on hospitality venues such as the requirement for table service will be lifted from Monday.
The Welsh government plans to reopen nightclubs and scrap the 'rule of six' in pubs and restaurants from January 28.
Irish government health officials are also expected on Thursday to make recommendations on easing restrictions, including changes to the Republic's 8pm curfew for bars and restaurants.
Stormont ministers will likely be looking closely at what changes are planned in other jurisdictions.
However, it is possible that relaxations could come slightly later than in Scotland and Wales as the spread of the Omicron variant hit Britain before reaching Northern Ireland.
Health Minister Robin Swann will also have to consider whether to follow England in reducing the self-isolation period for people who test positive for Covid-19 from seven days to five.
The British government said the move would help reduce staffing pressures in hospitals and other sectors.
Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said Stormont needs to "outline a roadmap toward the full reopening of our economy".
He said: "We now need a clear and managed plan to safely remove the Covid-19 restrictions and an immediate move to five days isolation to support our members with staff absences."
Belfast Chamber chief executive Simon Hamilton said predictions on how hard Omicron would hit have been "wide off the mark" but the impact of restrictions on businesses has been "very real".
He added: "With our concerns about Omicron now abating and businesses facing many other challenges too, ministers must move fast to remove those restrictions and amend their work from home guidance to help businesses to recover.
"As others start to get back to some semblance of normality, so should we."
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Northern Ireland needed a "clear and managed road map" for the easing of Covid-19 restrictions based on the latest health advice.
A further six Covid-related deaths and 4,081 cases of the virus were reported on Tuesday by the Department of Health.
On Tuesday morning, there were 412 Covid-positive patients in hospital in Northern Ireland, with 28 in intensive care.
First Minister Paul Givan last week expressed hope that restrictions introduced since Christmas could soon be relaxed.
He said Northern Ireland's Covid data presented a "much better picture" than what had been anticipated before the festive break.
The DUP MLA said this gives the Executive "more headroom to develop how we can reduce measures in the coming weeks".
And he said data indicated that Covid-related staff absences across a number of sectors had "stabilised".
Mr Givan also expressed his support for reducing the self-isolation period but stressed the decision rested with Mr Swann.
"We have to recognise the kind of proportionate, balanced risk decisions that we have to take and, on that one on self-isolation policy, if there's movement from seven days to five, which we’ve already seen in other parts of the world, then I think Northern Ireland should also be moving in that direction as well," he said.
"But that, ultimately, sits with Robin Swann to take that decision. It's not an Executive-wide decision."
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey last week said the Executive would "not keep restrictions longer than we need to".
But the Sinn Féin MLA cautioned that any easing of Covid restrictions "could potentially see a sharp spike again" in cases of the virus.
"That is why the restrictions are still in place but we are keeping them under constant review," she said.
