A public health expert has warned that a lack of community testing for the coronavirus in Northern Ireland is putting the Republic of Ireland at risk.
Dr Gabriel Scally has also said that plans to control and suppress the coronavirus in the UK are "not a safe way forward".
The former director of public health for the Eastern Health and Social Services Board in Northern Ireland told Newstalk Breakfast: "The big differences are still here in a big way.
"WHO have put out three questions to ask: is the outbreak under control, is the healthcare system able to cope if there's a resurgence, and is there a system to detect and manage cases of their contacts and identify if there is a flare up in a local area.
"That just isn't present anywhere in the UK, so the outbreak isn't really under control".
"Certainly in the North, and the rest of the UK, they're not doing testing in the community.
"Unless you can test in the community, how are you going to know if the infection's coming back - unless you wait until people are carried in sick into hospitals.
"It's not a safe way forward.
"I absolutely agree with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland about not easing the lockdown yet.
"But they've got other work to do, and that means getting into the testing and the case finding in the community.
"And also sorting out the ports and airports: because the UK proposals for that seem to me to be really, really unsafe".
He says a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed several weeks ago between Dublin and Belfast needs to be operationalised.
"We still haven't sorted out this - what I call - the Strabane and Lifford issue.
"If you get the virus in Strabane you'll be told to isolate for seven days - if you get it in Lifford you'll be told, in keeping with WHO advice, to isolate for 14 days.
"That sort of thing is crazy, but the biggest one has to be the testing and the North really need to sort that out.
"Because it puts both parts of the island in jeopardy of this virus going on far longer than it needs to".
On the wearing of face masks, Dr Scally says they "do no harm" if people want to use them in enclosed spaces.
"The evidence is unsure about face masks - but it does seem to be tending toward their use, so I think there is a role.
"But I would hate to see there now being a huge shortage of face masks and them not able to be provided where they're needed most".
"But on this occasion even I'll be wearing a mask if I think it needs it, like going on public transport and being too close to people.
"It does no harm".
