Northern Ireland's Health Minister has said he is still awaiting legal advice on how he can replace the remaining Covid restrictions this week.
The Department of Health is due to review the measures after last week's resignation of First Minister Paul Givan, which led to the collapse of the Executive.
Stormont ministers were due to discuss removing restrictions on Thursday and Robin Swann has said it was his intention at this meeting to advocate "a significant removal of Covid restrictions" and replace them with guidance.
"Thursday 10 February is the legal review point," Mr Swann said.
"My department must make a review of current regulations that are in place but I haven't received the legal advice up to date yet.
"I'll hopefully have an update on Thursday."
On Monday, Mr Swann said: "When we had an Executive, ministers always said we wouldn't retain restrictions for a day longer than necessary, so that same logic should still apply.
"But removing legal regulations does not mean a free for all or throwing caution to the wind. We can and must keep making safer choices in our daily lives, for the sake of others as well as ourselves. Guidance can spell out how best to do that.
"While we must move forward carefully, we can't stay locked in emergency restrictions forever. We need to start getting normal back.
"That means moving cautiously out of the current legal phase of the Covid response."
He added that he hopes any removal of restrictions will be a "permanent decision", but that the virus "remains unpredictable."
Remaining Covid measures in Northern Ireland include the legal duty on retail to take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of transmission and a legal requirement to wear face coverings and the associated duty on businesses to take reasonable measures to ensure compliance.
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