Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster has confirmed that the easing of coronavirus restrictions will take place as planned tomorrow.
She said the Stormont Executive heard an update on the transmission of the virus, and agreed that the current R-number being around 1 has given the "necessary headroom to move ahead with the planned changes".
However, she cautioned that while shopping, parts of hospitality and close contact services may resume, the public must follow health guidelines.
Her remarks come as Northern Ireland reported a further 14 coronavirus-related deaths and 441 new confirmed cases.
The death toll in the North now stands at 1,099 with 56,719 confirmed infections.
Ms Foster defended the decision to ease the restrictions. "We haven't seen the impact of these last two weeks of restrictions," she said.
"Of course we are very disappointed to see the number of deaths this week, 73, that's a big number, and therefore when we look at these figures it's important we realise that comes after two weeks when we were out of restrictions.
"People have to realise that personal responsibility is the key issue here. We have made provision that people can get together over Christmas but they should do so in a safe way, and just because we say you can doesn't mean that you have to, and that's very key.
"Yes, we come out of restrictions tonight and into tomorrow morning but we are keeping a very close eye on where the R number is at.
"We will be looking at that again next week and the week after to see where we are going with restrictions."
Some restrictions will ease from tomorrow, but there is no easing of the need for all of us to follow the public health guidelines. pic.twitter.com/hMBD5PXhOL
— Arlene Foster #We'llMeetAgain (@DUPleader) December 10, 2020
Ms Foster said Covid ambassadors will be in town centres to provide advice.
Restrictions will remain on sport, including outdoor exercise limited to groups of 15 and spectators at outdoor sporting matches will be limited to 500.
She said gyms, swimming and diving pools can open for individual or one-to-one training and PE can continue in schools but inter-school sporting fixtures are not allowed.
Meanwhile church services can take place with worshippers wearing face coverings.
Earlier, Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann asked people objecting to Covid-19 vaccination on anti-abortion grounds to think again.
Minister Swann said some pro-life activists are criticising a vaccination programme that will save many lives. "The Covid-19 vaccination programme is not compulsory. People are entitled to their own views and I fully respect that.
"However, they are not entitled to mislead others and potentially deter them from taking a vaccine that will protect them from a lethal virus.
"Making unfounded claims on social media is overstepping the line and I urge them to think again.
"Firstly, it should be stressed that the Pfizer vaccine does not contain any human cells.
"Secondly, and crucially, It must be remembered that vaccines have saved millions of lives worldwide."
In a statement, Mr Swann said: "We need widespread take-up of the Covid-19 vaccine in Northern Ireland to protect the population, particularly older and vulnerable citizens in our community.
"Widespread take-up will also help us move gradually towards the easing of restrictions in society.
"It is disappointing that people calling themselves pro-life would be objecting to vaccination programme that will save many lives."
It is the case that the development and testing of some vaccines can include the use of human cell lines grown in labs, having been replicated from foetal cells obtained in previous decades following abortions.
"If people want to object on those grounds and leave themselves unprotected from Covid-19 that is their choice.
"In matters of conscience, I believe saving the lives of our fellow citizens in the here and now must come first."
