WATCH: Covid-19 test patient films procedure to take fear out of it for people

Louise Walsh

A Meath videographer has filmed himself getting the Covid-19 test in an effort to take the fear and mystery out of the procedure.

Donal Norton was referred for the test in the grounds of Our Lady's Hospital by his GP after he presented with a dry cough and soaring fever.

The Navan man, who waited four days for the test,falls into the at risk category due to an underlying condition.

The short video shows Donal driving to the hospital and remaining in his car while approached by two medics.

The first handed him a kit or a tissue into which to blow his nose and then a mask to put on.  Another medic then comes out to swap his mouth and nose.

"I decided to do this to take the fear and mystery out of the test for anyone who may be anxious about it," he said.

"It's crazy the amount of people who contacted me to say thanks for doing it as they felt other demonstrations out there felt fake and did nothing to alleviate their worries.

"This was real - I even gagged during it as the swabbed the back of my throat

"Basically I rang my GP with symptoms and due to my medical history, a test was arranged.  I was waiting four days for the test of which I was notified by text.

"I got a phone call that morning to tell me where to go. There were gazebos up on the grounds of the hospital and I was to pull into one of them.  They took the car details and told me that at no stage was I to get out of the car.

"Then they took the test and that was it. Thankfully, if I had Covid-19, I'm fine now but I still could be a carrier, plus I'm in the high risk category.  I should get the results in a few days, they said.