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An Ulster Unionist MLA who tested positive for Covid-19 said he had none of the three classic symptoms of the virus.<\/p>\nAn Ulster Unionist MLA who tested positive for Covid-19 said he had none of the three classic symptoms of the virus.<\/p>\n
John Stewart, 37, returned to Stormont for the first time this week after self-isolating.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was getting really bad headaches to the point where I nearly passed out. I was investigating that further because I was so worried it was something more sinister,\u201d he told the PA news agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt that stage I also had fatigue, I felt dizzy. I\u2019m usually quite spritely and fit, but I couldn\u2019t read, couldn\u2019t focus on anything, and the headaches were getting worse to the point where I couldn\u2019t open my eyes, it was getting unbearable. I\u2019d walk up the stairs and have to sit down, it just wasn\u2019t me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never really suffered from headaches, never had migraines, it felt like someone was sticking a knife in my head.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Stewart tested positive for Covid-19 on October 21 and was instructed to self-isolate for 10 days.<\/p>\n
He said the worst of the symptoms lasted around seven days, and he still does not \u201creally feel like myself\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI walked up the stairs to my office on the third floor and had to sit down for 10 minutes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The week Mr Stewart tested positive, several MLAs received notifications on the Stop Covid NI app, including Health Minister Robin Swann and DUP MLA Pam Cameron.<\/p>\n
Mr Stewart said he had worn a face covering constantly and stayed distanced from people, particularly with being in the public eye.<\/p>\n
He said he is still unclear how he contracted the virus.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are so many ways you can potentially pick it up as well as proximity to people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can be that you just let your guard down for a minute, like handling a petrol pump and it\u2019s on the handle, and you forget to wash your hands, or you touch a door.<\/p>\n
\u201cI certainly didn\u2019t get a ping on the app or be contacted by track and trace. There are so many people who are asymptomatic. It is so easy to contract.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re in the chamber everyone is separated. A lot of the people who got a message to self-isolate, I don\u2019t remember being anywhere near them at any stage, never mind for 15 minutes. I think there are probably more people who are out there who have it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He urged the public to \u201ckeep their guard up\u201d to protect themselves and their loved ones.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say I am reasonably young, reasonably fit and I certainly felt it. I think if you were in the vulnerable category it would be really debilitating,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would advise people to keep their guard up, look out for each other and take all the precautions like wearing a mask and social distancing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Stewart received a flurry of messages from well wishers after confirming he had tested positive, which he said was nice but admitted it left him feeling \u201ca bit scundered\u201d.<\/p>\n
The East Antrim representative is believed to be the second MLA to contract the virus after SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan in September.<\/p>\n