Stormont ministers have agreed to end social distancing restrictions for shops, theatres and a number of other indoor settings in Northern Ireland.
At a meeting yesterday evening, ministers decided to remove the one-metre distance requirement for the retail sector, indoor attractions and seated indoor venues.
The measures are to take effect from 6pm on Thursday and further consideration is to be given to the hospitality sector on 7 October.
The move to ease restrictions in the retail sector comes as every adult aged 18 and over is in line to receive a £100 voucher which they're being urged to spend in shops and businesses in their local areas from next Monday.
Some sectors are being asked to put in place mitigation’s including proof of double vaccination or a negative lateral flow test, but this will be advice and not legislation so not legally enforceable.
Ministers have agreed to strengthen guidance to business and venue owners to mitigate the impact of allowing a return to full capacity.
The advice includes the installation of screening, one-way systems and increased ventilation.
In regard to indoor seated venues, ministers will issue additional guidance to venues advising that they introduce entry policies that require proof of either Covid-19 vaccination, a negative lateral flow test or evidence of a positive PCR test within the previous six months.
The requirement for so-called vaccination passports for entry to the indoor seated venues is be advisory only.
During the meeting, SDLP Minister Nichola Mallon argued against a proposal from the DUP and Sinn Féin to dropping social distancing measures in indoor seated venues without the requirement of vaccine certification.
Ms Mallon proposed Covid vaccine passports for those venues be introduced by regulation, but was blocked in the executive vote.
Opposition to the introduction of them has been described as "astounding and reckless" by SDLP leader Colum Eastwood.
The DUP and Sinn Féin opposed a proposal to make proof of vaccination one requirement of entry to indoor seated venues.
Mr Eastwood said the decision was "irresponsible" amid warnings of pressure on the health service during winter.
"This is a moment for political leadership. The warnings from senior health service professionals could not be starker."
"Unless rates of transmission fall, we are looking at a bleak winter scenario that will push health workers beyond their limits and see some emergency services collapse. We cannot allow that to happen," he said.
"The choice we have right now is to increase vaccinations or introduce restrictions. In a few weeks, we wont have any choice at all," he added.
Mr Eastwood said the "evidence from other regions that have implemented vaccine certification programmes is that it drives vaccine uptake, particularly in younger age groups".
Derry GP Nicola Herron has criticised the change in restrictions in Northern Ireland.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Dr Herron said: "The health service is completely on its knees. GP practices are not coping. The demand has surged beyond anything we have ever seen, especially at this time of the year.
"Our contacts are up 60% and we're really, really struggling to cope with demand from patients - many of whom are very anxious because they're on hospital waiting lists for operations that are just not happening.
"Hospitals are still in surge mode. They are only operating on red flag patients and patients who need emergency life-saving surgery."
She said that for the first year it appeared that the Executive were "cognisant" of what was happening in the North and "were making relatively good decisions".
Over the past six months, however, they have had a short-sighted view of the economy and that has taken precedence over the health service, Dr Herron claimed.
"In the health profession we are increasingly frustrated by the decisions that are being made by the Executive especially over the last six months," she said.
