Dr Tony Holohan has said that vaccinated grandparents will be able to hug their grandchildren without masks from Monday - but warned that some counties are still at the risk of local lockdowns.
The second batch of restrictions will be lifted on Monday, allowing home visits for the first time in months.
And when questioned as to how many precautions those who are vaccinated will have to follow, the Chief Medical Officer had good news
Dr Holohan said: "We think that if they're vaccinated it enables them to do that and to not have to wear masks or take other precautions. We asked these people to stay at home completely for over a year.
"They shouldered the burden and it was hard for them to be cut off from their own family. So this is something that most people will welcome.
However, Dr Ronan Glynn sounded a warning to four counties in particular.
Dr Glynn said: "Across a wide part of the country, incidence rates are under 100 cases per 100k.
"However, there are a number with higher - and we will be monitoring those closely, in particular Kildare, Dublin, Roscommon and Cavan.
"We need to be careful. We need to ask people to continue to focus on outdoor activities and to avoid indoors where possible. Avoid anything that could lead to a superspreader event."
Dr Holohan followed up on that point with a small warning that NPHET would not be afraid to advise on local lockdowns should the situation call for it.
The CMO added: "I hope we can avoid local restrictions. I'd simply say that we'll keep an eye on the variations between different counties as we ease restrictions. If we think we need to offer advice for an individual county, we will. I'm not saying it won't happen, but I don't think it will."
When asked about his advice for those taking the Leaving Cert, Dr Holohan urged them to "essentially quarantine themselves" in the build up to next month's exams.
"We've seen young people take on a responsibility and turn things around when the rates were high in that age group - but we've seen that before and it's come back again.
"In most schools, the way the Leaving Cert is timed, there's often a gap of two-to-three weeks before exams. That's the opportunity to limit their contacts and avoid large gatherings. Many of them are already 18, they'll be in a position to take that kind of action. They'll want to make sure they get through the exams without any hindrances."
Dr Holohan also spoke about the possibility of foreign travel in the summer.
"We're advising people to not get ahead and plan trips at the moment. In the not-terribly-distant future, maybe. We'll keep monitoring the disease over May. But people will need to understand what risk attaches to what you're engaging with if they do book these things."
