A FERMANAGH doctor has advised people to take Covid-19 seriously and not become complacent as the BT92 postcode spends a second week with the highest rate of infection in Northern Ireland.

The postcode area covers South East Fermanagh and settlements such as Lisnaskea, Newtownbutler, Derrylin, Kinawley and Florencecourt.

Dr. John Porteous – a GP in Lisnaskea – welcomed the drop in Covid-positive cases in the area, as the numbers have fallen from 240 cases in the postcode in a week to 133, and the rate of infection has dropped from 205.4 to 113.8, according to the Department of Health.

He warned: “There has been no drop in the demand for services for Covid-19. Some people may feel fine in the first few days of a Covid-19 infection, but symptoms can get worse as the disease progresses.

"The drop in demand for services should come in the next few weeks.”

Like many other organisations across the county, Covid-19 being present in the community means the centre has been running at a reduced capacity due to staff members being absent.

Dr. Porteous relayed his concerns about complacency around Covid-19.

He said: “We did so well in the early stages, so there may have been complacencies now.

"There are probably not enough people wearing masks indoors, while others are mixing households and sharing cars – car-sharing is not a good idea; it is a high-risk environment.”

Dr. Porteous pleaded for the public to return to basics, saying: “The basic messages we received months ago still apply, now more than ever.

"These [Covid-preventative] behaviours should have become 'the new normal' for us, but have not been universally accepted and adhered to.

"In countries where people are more used to wearing masks, such as South Korea, their numbers are much better than ours.

"People seem to forget that this virus is only a threat when other people give it to us, or we pick it up on our hands and forget to wash them.

“People need to wash hands more frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water. Keep hand gel in your car, schoolbag or handbag, and use it regularly, especially before eating.

"Keep your distance from others when outside your home. Respect people’s right to safety, and stay back when you’re queueing in the supermarket.

"Open windows in workplaces and places where groups gather from different households, such as churches and schools.

"In spite of all the mixed messages, face masks which cover the mouth and nose do work, particularly those with several layers of cloth. Please wear them when in public places.

“The disease is circulating – it has not gone away. The risk will still be there until we get a vaccine for 60-70 per cent of the population, and that could take until April; it’s going to be a mammoth undertaking.”

Dr. Porteous is cautious about the Northern Ireland Executive's plans for Christmas.

“Just because we can [gather three households together] doesn’t mean we should. People are not going to be able to socially distance in their homes; they may not wear face masks, and it’s unlikely they’ll open windows to keep air circulating when it is the Winter.

"We have to temper our behaviour with common sense.”

Dr. Porteous spoke at the length about receiving a ‘negative’ result from a Covid-19 test.

He said: “if you have suspicious symptoms and test negative, you still need to self-isolate with your household, because the swab test is only 70 per cent sensitive.

"If you are having symptoms suggestive of Covid-19, then you should assume you have it. If anyone in your bubble has tested positive for Covid-19, you should assume you have it too, even if you have no symptoms.”

He added that some practitioners would prefer if test results came back to say “that 'Covid-19 not proven rather than negative', due to inconsistencies with swab tests".

Dr. Porteous concluded that people need to be considerate when dealing with others.

He said: “Be kind to others in your comments about this pandemic. Some people are very stressed, and all too many have already lost loved ones or are struggling with longer-lasting effects of Covid-19.

"We, as a society, need to support each other, and protect each other, and we will get through it."