Lloyd Russell-Moyle, the Labour MP for Kemptown and Peacehaven, has confirmed on social media that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
He says he immediately self isolated after feeling symptoms of coronavirus on Wednesday of last week and called 111 for advice. He was then tested on the last day of NHS community testing which was on Thursday. He received his positive diagnosis this afternoon after waiting for six days.
Lloyd said in his post:
If we are serious about the W.H.O advice of “Test, Test, Test” then we need to do better than this.
My understanding is that a manufacturing plant in Northern Ireland is exporting 15-minute COVID tests around the world because our NHS is not ordering them. We have University labs who are willing to assist with testing but aren’t yet.
He also believes we should be putting healthcare workers first when it comes to testing:
Our priority must be testing our healthcare workers, who are currently needing to self-isolate for 14 days when someone in their house shows a symptom, taking them away from their life-saving work.
This is the greatest test our NHS has ever faced, an NHS that was already under strain. I have every confidence that we have the skills and resources to beat this virus, but only if we take radical steps to reorganise and reprioritise our system.
Lloyd told the BBC that because he is HIV positive, his doctor has advised that he tests his kidneys to ensure they are functioning properly.
He finished is post by urging people to social distance as much as possible and follow the government’s advice.
Featured image: © Wikimedia Commons
