Young NI couple shocked at positive coronavirus test

Clionagh and Ciaran Lynch tested positive for coronavirus at the weekend and have not experienced any symptoms.

Clionagh, who is in the late stages of pregnancy, said that her husband was contacted by the track and trace service at the weekend to inform him he had been in contact with someone who has Covid.

The couple were tested on Saturday and on Sunday morning they were told their tests were positive.

Clionagh said she ‘nearly died’ when they received the positive results.

”I knew it was out there and that we would probably get it eventually, I was just hoping that we didn’t get it bad,” she said.

”Thankfully we haven’t had any symptoms. Ciaran plays a lot of sport and was getting his temperature checked regularly before training and we have never even had so much as a temperature.”

Clionagh said the couple had been very careful and had not been in any large gatherings since the easing of lockdown.

”We think that Ciaran got it while out playing golf with a friend, which we really didn’t think would happen.

”We never thought we had it and were so shocked when we got the positive results.

“We haven’t been panicking about it because we haven’t been sick at all and haven’t experienced the more severe side of the virus.”

Clionagh said they are particularly thankful they did not pass it onto anyone else who ‘could take it bad’.

”All of our family members that we were in contact with have been tested and they were all negative.”

The Lynch’s have been isolating ever since their diagnosis, something which Clionagh said they are not used to.

“We are busy people and we are not used to sitting in the house doing nothing. The week has been flying in and it is probably a bit of a blessing that it is happening at the end of my pregnancy as I wouldn’t be sitting down otherwise!”

Clionagh said she is concerned about going into labour with the couple’s first child before their isolation period is up.

”I am trying not to think about it, as we don’t know what the protocol is or if Ciaran would be allowed to attend. It is our first baby and I am just hoping I don’t go into labour before Saturday. After that, it will be fine.”