OPINION: Coronavirus testing is key to saving lives’ - Martina Anderson MLA

The Covid 19 crisis is the worst pandemic in living memory, and this period of physical isolation places a huge stress on mental health, relationships and our daily lives.

One of the major tools that we have at our disposal to fight this virus is the proper use of testing. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that wide scale antigen testing is critical to suppressing transmission of the virus.

However, it’s abundantly clear that there is not enough testing happening in Derry or throughout the north.

The World Health Organisation has told all governments to act fast, to have no regrets and to TEST, TEST, TEST.

Yet as I write this, testing in the north is restricted to only those in the health sector who are symptomatic or those who have been hospitalised with symptoms.

Across the north, daily tests still number only in their hundreds. Sinn Féin has been calling on the Department of Health to urgently step up testing for weeks.

Access to tests

Last weekend, after I contacted the Minister of Health and his Department, the Department amended the testing regulations to enable non-NHS frontline healthcare workers, such as carers, to access testing if they are symptomatic.

While this is a welcome move in the right direction, it does not fulfil the WHO’s directive – to test, to trace and to isolate.

In response to the current and heart-breaking outbreak of COVID 19 at Owen Mor care home, the staff and management asked the Western Health Trust to test all residents and staff whether they are symptomatic or not.

This would enable the immediate separation of any and all infected residents and staff, isolating the virus and reducing the chance of transmission to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

The Trust should agree that all residents and staff at Owen Mor need tested, and join our call for more Community Testing.

MEDIeval

For everyone else in Derry, the rules are to self-isolate if you have symptoms along with all the members of your household.

You will only be tested if your condition worsens and you need to be hospitalised.

This is a medieval approach to infection control - people should be tested, not locked away until their body fights the illness or they succumb.

‘Not rocket science’

Testing, tracing and isolating is not rocket science. You cannot fight a virus if you do not know where it is.

Amidst our current uncertainly, anxiety and hardship, this situation has also shown the best of the people of Derry through immense generosity of spirit, humour and compassion.

Community-driven initiatives have emerged all across the city such as through the Ballyarnett and Long Tower Community Response teams, who provide vital support and care packages to some of our most vulnerable residents.

I volunteered with some of these groups this week and the difference they make is outstanding – rain, hail or shine these community activists are there for those who most need them.

There is no community without unity and together the people of Derry will get through this crisis.

However, this does not remove the very basic fact that the people of Derry need proper antigen testing now.

Proper antigen testing will save lives.