Fear of second wave of Covid cases as behaviours start to slip
YEARS OF DISRUPTION – AND WORSE – LIE IN STORE IF PEOPLE DON’T WAKE UP TO HORRORS OF COVID, WARNS FETHARD GP
A LOCAL GP has warned of a second wave of Covid-19 cases over the coming months, saying people are not social distancing and are too slow to wear face masks in supermarkets.
Fethard-on-Sea based doctor, John Cox, said: ‘We are dealing with a lot of phone calls and we are trying to manage this virus which has not totally gone away. We are not impressed with the number of visitors to the Fethard area. From what I have seen, social distancing doesn’t seem to be being observed in any shape or form. You see groups of more than six people in close proximity and they are not two metres apart. People are not wearing any facemasks.’
He said: ‘We have people from everywhere including cars with German regs. We are living in a society where people will open pubs before they open schools. That’s the kind of society we have. We think it’s more important to have pubs. They could have opened schools in June so the government has bowed to pressure. I am not an epidemiologist or health specialist but I have witnessed what has happened in our locality, in a nursing home and (we) have had a death from Covid in the practice. This is not a little virus. This is a nasty disease and if you get it and you are elderly you could end up with a risk of ending up on a ventilator and dying. If you are young and you get it you will be sick for two weeks if you are not in an at risk category.’
Dr Cox said that while the figures are low nationally, they are increasing.
‘ The figures were low but then there was a move to get society open and our economy going again but I don’t think people are socially distancing. There is a feeling that this has now settled and people don’t have to be as careful as they were in the beginning. There is talk of an air corridor for people travelling from safe countries but a flight arrived from Dallas for God’s sake, flying in people from Texas from where they have nearly the highest death rate.’
He said stronger leadership is needed from politicians.
‘I know there is a huge amount of anxiety to try and get businesses moving again but if the whole thing flares up again it will cost even more.
‘People are travelling and are spending money but they are not being as careful as they should be. Social distancing is not being observed and masks are not being worn when they should be. We are seeing figures coming up. If this is the second wave, people are not getting enough direction now about face masks.’
He thinks hotel stays are fine so long as people and business owners act responsibly.
‘You can eat outside; it’s possible to do it.’
He said the situation is very difficult for parents and for children, urging people not to travel abroad. ‘I don’t think it’s safe to do it. I think while you are not breaking any laws, you are obviously taking a chance.’
Dr Cox said his practice is not back to the way it was before Covid and the waiting area will remain closed to the public for the next year at least.
‘We have a system in place where we ask people to phone us. We’ll return the call to everyone. If we are dealing with an issue over the phone we do that. If someone needs to come in, we meet them in the car park at the appointed time. They phone to say they have arrived and we ask them to wear a face mask and use hand sanitiser. They are asked not to touch anything.’
After their GP visit, patients are assisted back to their car. All Social Welfare and paperwork is done online.
‘We just don’t feel comfortable about having a waiting room functioning yet. The R (reproduction) number has risen above one. I am very uncomfortable about that. You are going to have a problem. At the local supermarket most people are healthy but at a doctor’s surgery you have people with medical issues. You hope social distancing will be observed but we don’t feel we can serve them properly.’
All payments are via debit or credit card to protect receptionists. Dr Cox said: ‘ This is the new normal, certainly until this time next year. It’s a very labour intensive way to run a general practice. Someone came in with a cut hand today and it took 40 minutes. That was an unscheduled call and it caused chaos with other appointments, so it’s challenging.’