Foreign holidays are "very much" out this summer, Health Minister Robin Swann has said
Mr Swann said ministers across Britain and Ireland were having discussions about drawing up "red lists" related to countries posing the highest Covid risks.
He said the Executive task force was still drawing up plans for hotel quarantining for international arrivals but he stressed there were still no direct international flights coming into Northern Ireland at the moment.
He also warned of the potential for a further surge in Covid-19 cases.
Mr Swann said the vaccination programme offered the hope of "better times ahead" with "more freedoms and more normality".
"We cannot jeopardise that better future by being reckless now," he said.
"We have so much work to do, both in terms of combating the virus and repairing the great damage it has caused.
"Rebuilding health services post-pandemic is a top priority of mine, particularly the need to address the backlog in operations and other treatments.
"The potential for a further surge in Covid-19 cases, however, represents the single biggest threat to that crucial rebuilding.
"That's a major reason why we need to be cautious now. As I have stressed before, the best way to protect non-Covid care is to stop the virus spreading."
Robin Swann said the public must remain cautious and vigilant.
"The virus is still out there, looking for ways to spread," he said.
He urged people to spend the Easter period "sensibly and respectfully".
"Remember that indoor mixing is still out of bounds, for very good reason," he said.
"While limited outdoor interactions are permitted, social distancing and common sense remain vital."
Is foreign travel for holidays off this summer? “Very much so,” says @RobinSwannMoH. He says the executive looking into setting up hotel quarantine when direct international travel does begin again
— Jayne McCormack (@BBCJayneMcC) March 24, 2021
Mr Swann said the pandemic had highlighted the "serious fragilities" in the north's health service, particularly in terms of staffing capacity.
"It's no secret that our health and care system was already under immense pressure pre-Covid," he said.
"Ten years of financial stringency had undoubtedly taken their toll.
"Northern Ireland is by no means unique in that regard. However, our system has been particularly fragile and strained for several years in comparison to neighbouring jurisdictions. Just look at our waiting-time statistics.
"Resilience here has been seriously impacted by having a system that has been repeatedly documented as needing change.
"Successive reports over many years have sounded a bleak warning in that regard.
"Opportunities for investment and reform have been missed, opportunities to build greater capacity and resilience.
"The fragilities in our system underline the particular need for caution in Northern Ireland, as we emerge from lockdown.
"Our health and care services have had the toughest of years. They still need our protection now.
"We do that by doing all we can to keep Covid infection rates down in the days, weeks and months ahead."
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride has announced the easing of safety advice to those considered clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) in Northern Ireland.
Since December 26 2020, CEV people have been advised to adhere to additional steps to protect themselves from Covid-19, including advice not to attend a workplace if they are unable to work from home.
Dr McBride said there would be a graduated easing of the advice from April 12, with the first step in relation to the workplace.
He said if people could not work from home they could go back to the workplace, as long as appropriate safety measures were in place.
"From the outset, protecting the most vulnerable people from Covid-19 has been a key priority," he said.
"If the current good progress in relation to the virus is maintained, I am pleased to recommend that CEV people will be able to attend work after April 12, provided the proper measures have been taken regarding the biosecurity of the workplace.
"This is an important step to helping CEV people re-engage with everyday life with confidence."
