Laws around the use of facemasks in shops, schools and on public transport are expected to be dropped and replaced with guidance.
The government's understood to be keen for NPHET to recommend the Covid restrictions be eased.
The public health officials will meet tomorrow to consider their use.
But Professor of Health Systems at DCU, Anthony Staines, doesn't think replacing the rules with guidance is a good idea right now:
"I think it'd be unfortunate, case numbers are still very high and we really need to look for cheap and non invasive ways of dealing with this problem.
"Masks are cheap, not particularly invasive, much less restrictive than closing everything and shutting everything down."
