‘Take Covid-19 seriously’ plea over second wave concerns

‘Take Covid-19 seriously’ plea over second wave concerns

16 September 2020

A LOCAL politician has warned against complacency in the fight against coronavirus as concern mounts about a second wave of the disease.

Rowallane councillor Kathryn Owen – who earlier this year spent time working on a Covid ward at Craigavon hospital – has appealed to people across the district to take the virus seriously and do everything they can to prevent its spread.

She said that having spent time working on both Covid and non-Covid wards at the start of the global pandemic, she has seen at first hand the “devastation” the disease can cause.

Cllr Owen, who put her PhD studies and local councillor role on hold to work in hospital, said she has “grave concerns” over what she is witnessing on social media with many people ignoring social distancing regulations.

“There is a blatant disregard for advice and some people are finding it a laughing matter,” she declared. “Some of the content I have read online would quite honestly be better placed in a fairytale book.”

Cllr Owen said while people may not like the restrictions in place and coronavirus “may be a complete pain” for some,  it is important they do everything they possibly can to save those who are vulnerable.

She said it is testament to everyone’s hard work that the number of older people currently testing positive is low, but she issued a stern reminder that these particular numbers are rising.

“This is when things get serious,” she declared. “I am not scaremongering; these figures are there for all to see. 

“I have seen people aged 35 and over struggle with this disease and it is no laughing matter. To explain the devastation it causes to a family is hard to express.”

Cllr Owen said it would be “unwise to be flippant about this disease” and warned it is wrong to compare coronavirus with the flu.

“This is not the ‘flu. Left to its own devices with no restrictions in place, the disease will travel through our community like wildfire. Factor in that we are also approaching ‘flu season and the consequences of the two illness on our health trusts doesn’t bear thinking about,” she said.

Cllr Owen said while Down District may have escaped a localised increase of restrictions, now is not a time for complacency. 

She added: “As someone who has faced this virus head-on, I beg you to take it seriously.”

Cllr Owen’s appeal comes after restrictions on visiting other households were reintroduced in parts of Northern Ireland after a rise in cases of coronavirus.

The localised Covid-19 restrictions cover Belfast, Ballymena and parts of Glenavy, Lisburn and Crumlin with no more than six people from two households in the affected areas will be allowed to gather in a private garden.

Those living in the restricted zones are being advised not to travel outside them unless it is necessary with the measures expected to be in place for two weeks.

Last week, First Minister Arlene Foster urged people living in the affected areas to “please take action now and stop the spread of the virus”.

Mrs Foster said there was a “creeping of the virus across Northern Ireland and we need people to work with us to stop that”.

The Northern Ireland Executive is asking medically vulnerable and older people living in the areas affected by the new restrictions to be “particularly careful” and follow all public health advice, while Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill urged people outside of the affected areas “not to think they are invincible or immune”.

Some doctors in Northern Ireland said they believe a second wave of Covid-19 is “likely” to happen within the next six months according to a survey conducted by the British Medical Association. It  found that 80% of 500 GPs and hospital consultants surveyed believe a second wave is “likely” or “very likely” to happen.