The R-rate of Coronavirus has hit an estimated 0.5-1.0 in Northern Ireland.
It comes as more measures are eased.
But the Department of Health say the reproductive rate of the virus is no longer viewed as the "the most important indicator for the purposes of policy decisions".
Health chiefs said at the end of May: "The key to doing our best [is] to keep R below 1 as we move through the stages of The Executive's recovery plan over the next few months."
However, the number of positive tests per day is what they are now focusing on.
A DoH spokesperson said: "The current estimate of R is 0.5-1.0.
"It should be noted, however, that as the number of new cases is low and in the presence of a robust testing programme and test/ trace/ protect strategy R is no longer regarded as the most important indicator for the purposes of policy decisions.
"The number of positive tests per day is likely to be a more important parameter in the context of planning.
"At present R will show a high degree of volatility and may be heavily influenced by small changes in numbers, and therefore may give a misleading impression of the state of the epidemic."
