The Northern Territory will drop region-wide mask mandates from next week in response to a downward trend in COVID-19 cases.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner said from Monday masks will no longer be required in indoor settings, other than in high-risk locations.
However, he said they remain strongly recommended, especially where social distancing is difficult.
Some areas of the Territory, where virus numbers have not come down as much, may also continue to have wider mask mandates but that will be reviewed later this week.
Mr Gunner said the Territory had "stared down" the Omicron wave.
"We can now say with some certainty we have passed the peak," he said.
"It is time for the Territory to enter the next phase where we continue to live with the virus but with more freedom and more personal responsibility."
The change came as the Territory reported 624 new virus infections on Wednesday.
Two more deaths were also revealed, while 76 people are in hospital with the virus, including two in intensive care.
Mr Gunner said the mask mandates would remain in force this week to ensure the downward trend in cases had been "locked-in".
"All the data we have gives us confidence we can manage this," he said.
