A farmer has warned about the danger of complacency when it comes to Covid-19.
The farmer, who asked to remain anonymous, said his family were all struck down by the disease in the early stages of the outbreak.听
While some experienced mild symptoms, he was badly affected, was bed ridden in the weeks prior to lambing and suffered shortness of breath for many weeks afterwards.
Writing in an NFU Scotland blog he said: "I have grave concerns that members of our farming community are not taking Covid-19 seriously.听
"Some farmers are paying little heed to social distancing with anecdotal reports of reasonable sized gatherings.
Farmers are not immune to this disease and the risks are still high.听
Fit and healthy听
"I am a relatively fit and healthy farmer but in the first week of lockdown in late March, I went down with what I would describe as an absolutely horrendous flu, which rendered me unable to do virtually anything for 10 days.听
"Even getting out of bed was a real effort.听 If this had happened a month later when we would have been flat out lambing, not being able to help would have been a potential disaster."
The farmer said even by lambing time, weeks later, he would still get 'very breathless', adding it took him two months to get back to normal.
"My son, who is a lot younger and fitter than I am, was floored for a week at the same time as I was, so things were not easy to manage," he said.
Symptoms听
"My wife and daughters took on some of the work and got us through, as we were busy calving then too.听 They all had lesser symptoms, being just off colour for a couple of days.
"Consider the consequences of bringing Covid-19 into a household. How would your farm and business cope if you or someone else was laid up for a period?听
"Also, with the new track and trace system in place, what would be the impact on you or others in your business?听
"Think what it would mean if you had to self-isolate for two weeks if you are identified as a close contact.
"So please think before you shake a neighbour's hand, go out without a mask or go on that social visit."
