EXCLUSIVE: "Continue to be bold over lockdown easing" leading health expert's message to OFMDFM
Professor karol Sikora says NI's handling of pandemic and easing of lockdown restrictions has been "beacon of success"
One of the world's top physicians says the Stormont Executive deserves a lot of praise for Northern Ireland's lockdown exit strategy.
Renowned cancer expert, Professor Karol Sikora, once an adviser to the World Health Organisation, believes we are setting the standards across the UK.
He branded our handling of the pandemic and easing of lockdown restrictions as "a beacon of success"
And in an exclusive interview with Downtown Radio & Cool FM, Professor Sikora, Chief Medical Officer at Rutherford Cancer Centres, had this message for Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill.
"I think it is time to be bold," he said. "They have been bold so far and it's time to keep moving - don't give up."
Professor Sikora says says Northern Ireland's decision-makers have played a key role in what he sees as a major success story.
"Your health service was never overwhelmed - it got busy with Covid- and it has the same problems as cancer does over here," he said.
"Somehow it seems to have been controlled and I think your politicians whatever party they come from have worked far closer together than we have seen over here.
"And it is a tribute to them that we are going to come to an end of this with Northern Ireland at the top of the four countries of the UK."
Professor Sikora also told Downtown and Cool that he believed that we would be returning to a new normal by September.
And you can watch the full interview on our Facebook page