‘Podium of doom’ — NI Health Minister Robin Swann responds to colleagues’ criticism of his dire coronavirus warnings

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster, Mr Swann was frank about the criticism he has faced for his often dire warnings about the threat posed by coronavirus.

“I’ve heard some of my political colleagues talk about the health briefings that I give on a Wednesday as a ‘podium of doom’,” he said.

“But what I have to bring as a health minister is a message of realism, about what Covid actually means to Northern Ireland, what threat it actually does carry.”

He continued: “We see the roll-out of the vaccine today, but Covid is out there. Covid’s been out there and it’s been embedded in our communities, and it’s still there. It’s something we have to fight. Our hospitals and our healthcare workers are fighting with it day-and-daily and people are still losing their lives to it. It’s still here, it’s still real, and it’s still a threat.”

He continued: “This vaccine brings hope, it brings an opportunity to look to what may come, but we cannot lose or abuse the benefit that it actually will bring.”

Mr Swann added: “I worry about tomorrow in regards to where our health service is.”