An Uttlesford District Councillor said his wife has now been tested for Covid-19, after doctors believed their symptoms were caused by the virus.

Dunmow Broadcast: R4U Councillor Arthur Coote. Picture: SAFFRON PHOTO.R4U Councillor Arthur Coote. Picture: SAFFRON PHOTO. (Image: Roger King)

R4U Councillor Arthur Coote went to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge with his wife, Elaine, and she was tested for coronavirus last Tuesday and got her result on Friday the same week, confirming she no longer has the virus.

“She got her letter back on Friday saying she tested negative, but she hasn’t had the antibody test which tell us if she has the antibodies.”

Elaine, who is an asthma sufferer, struggled with fever and a cough for weeks – and although she is currently on steroids for treatment, the cough is persisting.

“Because of her asthma, it’s delayed her recovery. When we are going for a walk, and she coughs to clear the airways, it’s off-putting, because you walk and people think, has she got the virus?,” Cllr Coote said.

However, the councillor says that she is mostly recovered, and that although he feels completely recovered, he will “never forget” what he went through.

He announced that as far as he and his wife are concerned, it’s “all good news” and that he hopes there will soon be good news for the whole country.

Nonetheless, he thinks testing is crucial for the population to recover.

“I think everybody should be tested. I don’t hear about anybody being tested. You only get tested if you go into the hospital. So many people are suffering still and dying.

“If you look at Germany, their motto is to test, test, test; New Zeeland, South Korea, they all test, test, test. The ones who test, test, test, have got the lowest mortality rate. They managed to make sure that everyone knows where this virus is happening and where the epicentre is.

“Other parts of the world have dealt with it [the virus] in a different way and have lost very few lives. We have lost a lot of lives. This is not local politics, but it is something that is of interest to us all.”

Cllr Coote wishes there were efficient antibody tests available, and he would have liked one for himself and his wife too.

He said: “The antibody test is not good enough, that is what doctors and the government say. The government bought millions of them, but they are not reliable enough to be used.”