Local doctor calls for five-day quarantine

CUTTING the Covid self-isolation period to five days “should be seriously looked at,” a Castlederg GP has said.

Dr Brendan O’Hare also remarked that in recent weeks, the numbers of medical staff available to work had been severely reduced by the need to self-isolate. As of last month, those who test positive for Covid are required to self-isolate for at least seven days, after the period was reduced by three days by the Stormont Executive.

However, speaking this week, Dr O’Hare, who works with the Western Rural Care practice, which includes surgeries in Ederney and Castlederg, says the situation should be reviewed once more.

“At one stage we were crippled,” he admitted. “Before the New Year, we had three doctors out. Another was awaiting a test result. We had two nurses, out and five or six admin staff. When working from home, there is a limit to what they can do. Basically, we need boots on the ground to physically look after people.

The situation had become critical, but it has eased a bit in recent days.” Dr O’Hare further explained that Western Rural Practice Care’s members of staff who had tested positive were all triple vaccinated, and none were in the least bit ill.

“Some of the senior politicians are openly discussing a five-day quarantine and for the sake of a wide range of services, that’s something that should be seriously looked at,” the Derg GP continued. “Certainly it would make a big difference for us in terms of providing continuity for the future. We need to challenge our conservative politicians and scientific leadership to accept the lead provided by the USA, reducing quarantine times to five days.

“How do we care for non-Covid patients who are really sick, and terminally ill people, when no one is available to care for them?”

Earlier this week, the government indicated that it would follow the science, but would keep this potential measure under review.