The Northern Ireland Executive is planning to publish its road map toward easing lockdown.
Politicians will set out the exit strategy for the next few months.
First Minister Arlene Foster told BBC Radio Ulster she was optimistic the plan would be unveiled on Tuesday.
“People across Northern Ireland have listened and acted on the public health advice over the last six weeks. They have stayed at home, kept their distance and washed their hands and because of that, they have saved lives.
“We have flattened the curve of infection, reduced the R rate to below one and protected our health service but we are not out of the woods yet. It is important that we continue to follow this advice.
“As the Executive begins to finalise our plans for recovery, we need to strike the balance between continuing to protect lives and the health service and give people hope for the future. The changes that we will introduce will be gradual, proportionate and based on scientific and medical advice and will be taken at the right time and in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland,” she said.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill added: “Society has changed beyond all recognition over the past six weeks as people have followed the advice to stay at home and save lives. That remains the message.
“As an Executive we know it has been tough and we understand the impact the regulations are having on what was once our normal lives. But we are at a critical stage in the fight against the virus and so our recovery must be phased, gradual and strategic.
“The decisions this Executive will take in the days and weeks ahead are some of the biggest we will ever have to make. We know that six weeks into the restrictions, people need some light at the end of the tunnel. We also know that recovery will only happen one step at a time, to do otherwise risks undermining the sacrifices people have already made and increases the risk of a second spike in the future.”
Hours after Boris Johnson’s new ‘stay alert’ slogan was published, leaders of the other three nations, including Northern Ireland, said that the “stay at home” advice remains.
Meanwhile, the 2020 North West 200 has been cancelled.
The event which was due to take place from 12-16 May – was postponed on 17 March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, next year’s North West 200 has been earmarked for 9-15 May.
The organisers, Coleraine and District Motor Club said it would be ‘even bigger and better.’
“Since March the organisers of the North West 200 have been in consultation with all of the relevant agencies to explore the possibility of running the meeting at a later date during 2020.
“We have corresponded with officials from the Northern Ireland Executive, as well as Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, plus all of the NW200’s stakeholders, considering every option available to us should there be a suitable window of opportunity.
“Despite these efforts, it is now obvious the disruption and uncertainty the virus will continue to place on all of our lives and activities in the coming months will make it impossible to deliver the extensive planning required to run an event on the scale of the North West 200,” it said in a statement.