Covid-19 has not gone away but infection has become much milder.
This is according to Professor Sam McConkey who was spoke about the current situation to Shannonside Northern Sound this afternoon.
The professor said that while there was a "strong recommendation" by medics to continue wearing masks, because it was no longer mandatory, people were not wearing them.
Professor McConkey said, despite this, he remains hopeful that any further waves of the virus will be mild.
"But it' s not gone away, so we do need to be on our guard," he continued.
"I'm very very happy that the last two waves have been much, much milder.
"We are not seeing those large numbers of people in hospital with lung failure now.
"That seems to have become a rarity in the last few months and I am so pleased about that."