Northern Ireland's Health Minister said he is seeking legal advice on how he can "replace the bulk of remaining restrictions" this week.
Robin Swann was speaking after the resignation of First Minister Paul Givan, which led to the collapse of the Executive.
The Executive was due to discuss removing remaining Covid restrictions on Thursday, with Mr Swann adding his intention as this meeting was to advocate "a significant removal of Covid restrictions."
He said: "I am now seeking that legal guidance on how I myself can replace the bulk of remaining restrictions - if not them all - with clear guidance and advice.
"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."
Robin Swann was speaking as Northern Ireland approaches the second anniversary of its first coronavirus case, which was recorded on February 27, 2020.
Although stating "we have real reasons to be optimistic" now, the Health Minister paid tribute to those who have lost their lives to the virus here over the past two years. As well as this, he thanked health workers and wider society for the "countless sacrifices" made.
Mr Swann said: "As we pause to reflect on the past two years, let me again express my heartfelt sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones. We must never forget those who have passed away. We must always honour their memory.
"There is no doubt that many more would have lost their lives were it not for a huge collective effort across our society. People from all walks of life followed the public health advice. They abided by restrictions, even when it was really hard.
"Countless sacrifices were made, countless opportunities lost. Days, weeks, and months went by without us being with the people we cared most about. Sometimes at the most difficult and heartbreaking of times.
"I want to thank people across Northern Ireland for all their sacrifices.
"Don't let anyone play down or belittle what you have done, don't ever let them tell you it didn't matter. It did. You put others first. You saved lives.
"Of course, some people in high places have let us down. Selfishly suited themselves. But the vast majority did their best to do the right thing. Thank you.
"Let us all reflect once again on how much we owe the health service and its amazing staff. Let us not just express that gratitude in words. Let us translate it into action."
Due to the Executive's collapse, Robin Swann said he is concerned about the health budget scheduled for March. Acknowledging that the health system has been "ravaged by Covid", he said the sector needs a "joined up and united Executive" to improve it.
"Our health and social care system has been ravaged by Covid. I have likened it to a country that has been decimated by war," the Health Minister added.
"We have a massive rebuilding job to do. Tackle those appalling waiting lists, transform social care, and cancer care and mental health provision.
"And whilst the latest draft budget would not have been without its challenges - it at least would have provided certainty and a solid basis for long-term planning and reform. But that opportunity now appears to have been selfishly and cruelly taken away.
"As I stand here today on February 7, I have no clear information at all on what the health budget will look like in less than eight weeks' time. That's a staggering state of affairs.
"Rebuilding and placing our health and social care system on a sustainable footing was always going to be a challenge, but it's been made immeasurably more difficult by continuing the financial uncertainty that has dogged the system for the last seven to eight years.
"I've looked into the faces of enough clinicians and listened to enough patients to know that they didn't deserve to be robbed of the chances for a better health service.
"One that would have been able to recruit staff knowing that there was still going to be enough money the next year to pay them, and one that has detailed plans in place to get on top of the fundamental problems once and for all.
"Our health service desperately needs a joined up and united Executive, working together to fix it. No more living hand to mouth with bailouts and short-term budgets. We can't run a health service one week or one month at a time."
To get the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
