THE POSITIVE PROFESSOR

PROFESSOR KAROL SIKORA CMO of Rutherford Cancer Centres and Former Director of WHO Cancer Programme

SOCIAL media’s voice of calm Karol Sikora has been signed up by the Daily Express. Readers can now enjoy his soothing advice in these troubled times that have won him hundreds of thousands of followers on Twitter. If you need reassuring everything’s going to be all right read Professor Positivity.

I AM very much a family man.

I have six grandchildren and being apart has been the hardest thing about this lockdown.

We’re all social beings, we need human contact. It’s why so many have suffered so much, locked away from family and friends.

Young children are so resilient – I’ve been amazed how they adapt to a changing world.

Of course, it’s important to get the economy moving but for many, being able to reconnect with loved ones is what they want the most.

It made no sense that I could see my daughter in the supermarket or garden centre but not sit two metres apart in our garden.

The Government has pleaded with us to show some common sense, but it needed to work both ways.

The PM’s announcement yesterday will make an enormous difference to millions of families.

From Monday, being able to see six people in gardens and outdoor spaces represents a huge step forward. Relying on the British weather is a problem, but the forecast looks good – fingers crossed!

We know most virus transmissions happen in small, confined spaces.

In the open air the risk is far less. I’d like to see all outside activity get moving – my local pub has a fantastic beer garden.

I don’t see why, with the correct precautions, it can’t open.

I’ve always said the summer will feel more normal than people fear.

We went into lockdown more than two months ago now and the whole landscape has dramatically changed in that time.

I’m confident that by August life will be virtually back to normal – with a few lingering exceptions.

The fear of a sudden spike of infections will gradually subside as we go through summer.

So far the data from countries further out of lockdown are really encouraging.

As we say goodbye to another month in lockdown, I very much look forward to welcoming my family to our garden next week and enjoying a glass of wine in the summer sun.