An Edinburgh nurse treating Covid in Africa now faces a mad dash home for Christmas after UK travel restrictions eased.
John Irvine faced being stuck in a quarantine hotel as Malawi for Christmas, where he was working, was on the UK’s red list but has now been able to make the journey home.
The 50-year-old based at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary has been out in Malawi working on the front line as the Omicron variant swept across Malawi.
The heroic nurse extended his stay following the discovery of the highly transmittable variant and has been working on a ward saving pregnant women with Covid.
Luckily after the restrictions were lifted last week, the 50-year-old can instead go home to Linlithgow when he returns on Thursday.
John has been training intensive care and A&E medics on how to save critically ill patients during his time in Africa.
Arrivals from the 11 African countries put on the red list no longer need to quarantine after the measure was lifted – as long as they test negative for Covid.
John said: “It’s great news I will be able to enjoy a normal Christmas with my family, although I’ll now need to make a mad dash to the shops to buy presents.”
Ex-soldier John is part of the UK’s Emergency Medical Team which is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
He began his eight-week deployment on October 14 following a request for support from Malawi.
The UK’s minister for Africa, Vicky Ford, praised “brave medics like John Irvine”.
