NI could end up with one of the worst Covid-19 records in world, doctor warns

By Michael McHugh, PA

Northern Ireland could end up with one of the worst records in the world in tackling coronavirus, a doctor said.

Dr Gabriel Scally has called for an all-island plan to tackle the high number of Covid-19 cases occurring on both sides of the Irish border.

He is a Bristol-based public health doctor.

He told the BBC’s Talkback programme: “Northern Ireland is going to end up as one of the worst cases in the world unless someone gets a grip.”

He has previously called for an emergency summit of Dublin and Stormont ministers and is a critic of the lack of cross-border co-ordination to control the pandemic.

A total of 46,831 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland since the pandemic began.

Dr Scally said: “Show me the strategy and plan for dealing with this.

“I am astounded, I have never seen a worse situation.

“There is no plan, there is no strategy, there is no transparency.

“No one can say that the public health measures are working because we are not given any data.”