Sinn Féin TD Dessie Ellis was almost hospitalised with Covid-19.
Mr Ellis was so seriously ill with Covid that an ambulance was called, before nurses made the final determination that he was just about okay to stay at home.
The Dublin North West representative has revealed to the Irish Mirror how sick he was, saying “it was a rough ride” and “I was really worried for a while.”
Mr Ellis has returned to work this week after almost three weeks off recovering from the virus.
He told the Mirror that his wife, a frontline worker, also caught the disease and that it has reminded him how important it is for everybody to keep obeying public health rules.
Mr Ellis said last night that the thing he was most looking forward to doing now that he has recovered from Covid-19 is seeing his 92-year-old mother, who is a nursing home resident.
The 67-year-old was delighted to reveal that his mom is receiving her second Covid-19 vaccine jab this week.
A number of TDs and Senators have either contracted Covid or had to self-quarantine after close contact with loved ones who’d caught the virus.
It has reached the highest echelons of Government, with two members of Cabinet – Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee – succumbing to the disease in the last two months.
However, Mr Ellis has been the hit hardest of all by the potentially deadly virus, with his condition deteriorating so badly that a decision was made to call an ambulance.
He spoke exclusively to the Irish Mirror last night about his ordeal.
Mr Ellis said: “It was a really rough ride, no doubt.
“Myself and my wife, both got it. She’s a frontline worker, a healthcare worker.
“I got it and it took over two weeks to get over it. I was quite weak and yeah, I was knocked for six by it.
“I suppose one thing it has reminded me of – it’s like everything else, you have to be careful, you have to listen to the medical advice, follow the public health guidelines.
“So, yes, there was an ambulance called out for me.
“I was checked out, the nurses had a good look at me and they made the call.”
Thankfully, Mr Ellis did not need to be brought to hospital.
He added: “I thought… I was really worried for a while, I suppose I was very sick, and I’m never sick.
“What I’m mainly looking forward to now is seeing my mother again, because I haven’t been able to do that.
“She’s 92 and getting her second vaccine jab, so I’m really happy for that.
“I was not far off being hospitalised during it, so I suppose I’m lucky to be here in a way.”
