The frontline doctor at Ninewells whose Covid-19 social media posts have provided thousands of people with invaluable information has tested positive for the virus.
More than 500 people have already wished Dr Tom Fardon a quick and full recovery since the consultant physician in respiratory medicine shared his diagnosis on Tuesday.
He said he was “OK” and felt like he was suffering from a “head cold and sore throat.”
His latest Facebook post focused on testing. The Ninewells team set up their own in-house testing facility for staff early in the crisis.
He wrote: “Part of the reason for writing about testing was that I had to be tested today, having had symptoms of sore throat and headache this morning straight after my ward round.
“From contacting the hub to getting a test was one hour, and the results nine hours after that – an amazing turnaround.
“My swab is positive, so I have ‘the COVID’, and will be isolating for 7 days.
“I feel OK – it just feels like a head cold, and sore throat. I have no fever, no breathlessness, and I’m not too tired.
“On the positive side, it gives me more time to get on with that next FB (Facebook) post,” he added.
He went on to thank the NHS Tayside team who had conducted the test.
A total of 676 of NHS Tayside staff are currently absent from work due to illness, 5.3% of the those who work for the health board.
The number with confirmed Covid-19 is 51, or 0.4% of the total headcount. The figure rises to 127, 0r 0.99%, if the workers with suspected Covid-19 are included
Dr Fardon has offered insight and analysis on the struggle against the virus in Tayside since the middle of March.
One update has been shared almost 3,000 times.
His posts have offered advice on social distancing, the science behind the lockdown, the availability of personal protective equipment in Ninewells and his first hand experiences as a resident consultant on call in the hospital’s Covid-19 unit.
He is an honorary reader with the University of Dundee, an associate editor for online medical journals, and a medical researcher. He graduated from Cambridge University in 1999.
Audrey Bell was one of the hundreds to share their best wishes online.
She wrote: “Thank you very much for all your efforts in providing such comprehensive information, and to you and all the team for providing us with a great service in Tayside.
“Wishing you a speedy recovery.”
