Perth and Kinross councillors struggled to shake-off COVID-19 symptoms

Perth and Kinross councillors who had COVID-19 symptoms back in March were left struggling for up to seven weeks.

SNP councillors Richard Watters and Grant Laing both strongly suspect they had COVID-19 but were not eligible for testing.

Weeks later, like many other COVID-19 sufferers, the pair still suffered symptoms.

Cllr Laing works part-time in Strathearn Distillery in Perth but has only just returned to work this week after seven weeks.

He told the Perthshire Advertiser: “I feel lucky that I didn’t have it that seriously and wasn’t hospitalised but I had after-effects for the following six weeks.”

The normally active SNP group leader says he has struggled to get the energy just to cut the grass and found any physical exertion left him exhausted afterwards.

He said: “When I am out jogging, I run half a mile then I can’t get a breath in.”

He has been able to continue with council business via online video meetings.

Staff at Murray Royal Hospital take stranded ducklings under their wings

Fellow SNP councillor Richard Watters is also still struggling.

He said: “Six to seven weeks later and I still have some symptoms. I do have concerns about long-term damage to the lungs and the continual strain there could be on the NHS afterwards.”

Professor James Chalmers from Perth is the British Lung Foundation chair of respiratory research.

He said: “We are seeing that it is taking our patients a long time to get over COVID-19, particularly in those that had severe cases coming into hospital.

“Breathlessness on exertion, chest pains or chest discomfort and tiredness are very common and seem to be lasting up to a couple of months in some cases.

“My message to those getting over COVID-19 is not to worry.

“The research so far suggests the vast majority of people get back to normal after between a few weeks and a couple of months.

“We are putting in place follow-up and testing to identify the small minority of patients who may have longer lasting effects so that we can pick that up early and support patients.”