Mask plea from COVID-19 doc
Consultant who recovered from deadly virus warns of second peak
A Perthshire doctor who recovered from COVID-19 has stressed the need to be “prepared” for a potential second wave.
Carse of Gowrie-based doctor Tom Fardon took to Facebook this week in response to questions over potential new spikes in coronavirus cases in Scotland and emphasised the importance of wearing face masks as lockdown continues to ease.
A number of countries including Spain, Australia and Germany, are among those to reinforce lockdown restrictions in specified areas due to a rise in new cases.
The city of Leicester in England and parts of Dumfries and Galloway have also seen localised lockdowns.
The respiratory consultant at Ninewells Hospital has gathered a substantial following on social media since the virus hit Scotland as he seeks to answer questions about the deadly pathogen.
A reader at Dundee University, Dr Fardon has given detailed answers to questions about testing, social distancing and PPE amongst others, as well as sharing numerous graphs.
And with face coverings now being made mandatory in all shops from today (July 10), the doctor moved to assure residents they can still play a huge role in preventing the spread of the disease.
Posting this week Dr Fardon said: “In the top three questions I get asked, [one] is always, ‘will there be a second wave?.’
“The answer is always the same - it’s certainly possible, and we have to be prepared for it.
“The follow up is then, ‘has anywhere else seen a second wave?’. [It] looks like we’re now seeing that in Melbourne.
“The prevalence of COVID-19 may be very low here in Scotland but you can see here how quickly things can escalate in a matter of days.
“When the Scottish Government announced the recommendation to wear masks in shops and other confined public spaces from Friday this week, many people have suggested that it’s far too late an intervention, as the prevalence has fallen right off, and ‘why are we bothering now?’.
“The answer is right here.
“While the prevalence in the community is low we should do everything we can to keep it low, and wearing a mask to protect other people is a really simple method of reducing risk that you spread COVID-19 to someone else.
“Melbourne’s second spike is already bigger than their first, and is overwhelming their services.
“It doesn’t help that it’s the middle of winter over there, so they’re busy with everything else already.”