Covid-19: Derry doc says it’s vital to ‘stay positive’

Dr Paul Molloy, who is among doctors working on the frontline against the coronavirus pandemic, is urging the public to “maintain their optimism” as stay at home restrictions continue.

Stress and anxiety, he says, will become “more and more prominent” as the isolation rules go on.

However, Dr Molloy, a GP at Clarendon Medical in Derry, insists the restrictions are for the greater good of the public.

“My opinion is that, in the absence of substantial evidence to the contrary, the current approach seems safest,” he said.

He believes relaxing the lockdown and aiming for “herd immunity” - that is when so many people in a community become immune to an infectious disease that it stops the disease from spreading - risks more deaths than would be the case if we maintain the present approach.

“The plateau in deaths and new infections is definitely as a result of social isolation,” he says. “If social isolation is relaxed, that will increase.”

He added: “For example, the opening of beaches etc., while it seems sensible if social distancing is employed, is always then open to abuse and it can be impossible to stop people breaking the rules unless they are very clear and concrete.”

Turning to the wider picture, Dr Molloy says the choices that have to be made by our elected leaders are not easy.

“I get the feeling that, while mistakes have been made, they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

“I’ve read a few stories suggesting that isolation etc., is an infringement of rights and not evidence based.

“While I don’t disagree with the evidence argument, neither is there evidence that we should stop the lockdown and common sense dictates that this will spread more if we mix.”

Dr Molloy also repeated his call for people to be vigilant of other illnesses during the Covid-19 crisis.

He is concerned people may be staying at home when they need treatment for serious non-coronavirus health issues.

“Despite practices having their doors closed, we are still open as normal. We can still see you, if needed,” he said.