Northern Ireland's Education Minister Peter Weir has welcomed the full return of all pupils to school as a "very positive day for young people".
Speaking on a visit to Sullivan Upper School in Holywood, Co Down, Mr Weir said he felt the very youngest and very oldest in society had "suffered most" during the pandemic.
"I think this is important, not simply from an educational point of view but for the mental health and wellbeing of our young people to be back in with their friends in class, and it's something I very much welcome," he said.
The Department of Health in Northern Ireland today reported another 97 cases of Covid-19 and no further fatalities.
The death toll remains at 2,129. The total number of positive cases since the pandemic began is 118,364.
It comes as the next phase of easing coronavirus restrictions in Northern Ireland began.
The Stormont Executive's message to "stay at home" will be replaced by messages for people to "stay local" and "work from home".
First and Deputy First Ministers, Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill, said the latest steps out of restrictions are "good news" for society and that today is a "significant day" that gives hope for the future.
The number of people who can now meet outdoors in a garden, including children, increases from six to 10.
Indoor non-essential retail, which has been closed since 26 December, will remain closed.
However, click and collect services for all retailers is allowed, while outdoor non-essential retail such as garden centres and car showrooms will reopen.
Outdoor sports training is allowed for recognised clubs, in groups of up to 15, provided all indoor facilities except toilets remain closed.
People planning to get married or enter a civil partnership are permitted to view potential venues for ceremonies at a limit of up to four people.
The number of people allowed to attend such ceremonies will also increase, at a level informed by a risk assessment for the venue.
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One of the retailers to open its doors to the public again today was the Hillmount Garden Centre outside Belfast city.
It had been closed since Christmas Eve, but was operating a click-and-collect and a delivery service.
Customers began arriving as it opened at 8.30am, and since then the car park has been full.
Its owner, Robin Mercer, said he is "really, really happy" to be open again and that other services like click-and-collect are "not the same as customers coming through the door".
"It's lovely to welcome customers back again. The weather is good, everybody is out and in great form and they're all in picking their plants, furniture and barbecues," said Mr Mercer.
He said customers are "so pleased to be back" and a number of Covid-19 safety measures are in place, including sanitised trolleys, mask wearing and social distancing.
He said trade is "completely different" to what people have been buying through click-and-collect.
"They were buying more fertilisers, chemicals and compost, things that you can't actually see. But if you're going to buy a plant it's nice actually to see the plant."
Today's easing comes after the milestone of 1 million vaccine doses administered in Northern Ireland was reached over the weekend.
The latest figures show 1,014,000 doses have been administered, including 820,000 first doses, and 194,000 second doses.
The first green shoots of recovery... garden centres are among the outdoor retailers allowed to reopen in Northern Ireland today as more Covid19 restrictions ease @rtenews @vincekearney pic.twitter.com/hccjrEZ4bw
— Laura Hogan (@LauraHoganTV) April 12, 2021
Ms Foster said it is a "milestone day that signals our confidence in the way ahead".
She said that steady reduction is being seen in "health risk indicators", while there is "strong progress from the vaccine programme with more than one million doses administered across Northern Ireland".
"These combined with our expanded test, track and protect services will power us along our pathway to recovery," she added.
Ms O'Neill said people should "take heart from this progress, which is good news for young people, sports, families, business and communities".
She added: "The success of our vaccine programme and the reduction in new positive cases, particularly among vaccinated groups, gives us real hope that we are slowly making our way out of this pandemic and moving towards better times for us all."
Covid-19 restrictions in Northern Ireland will be reviewed again when the Stormont Executive meets on Thursday.
It is then expected that an indicative timeline for the full reopening, including things such as non-essential retail, hospitality and personal services such as hairdressers and beauty salons, will be agreed.
Additional reporting PA
