Former Dublin senior hurler Michael Carton has confirmed that he tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend and that he is being treated in hospital.
Carton, who was a member of the Dublin team that won a famous Leinster Senior Hurling title in 2013, revealed the news in a series of Twitter messages on St Patrick's Day.
In the tweets, he warned that the COVID-19 symptoms are not just related to breathing.
"So I had been self isolating for a few days with flu like symptoms, got tested and came back positive for COVID-19 Saturday!!" Carton tweeted.
"A few things I've learned 1: it's very tough self isolating wen you're feeling really sick,texts and phone calls from friends and family really do help!!
"2: The symptoms I had were a headache, chills and fever.
"No respiratory problems so don't just be looking for a cough.
"3: I'm in hospital since Saturday, the care was very poor at the start, felt I was just left to my own devices really+not getting better"
The O'Tooles clubman is the first high profile GAA player to test positive for the virus.
He also revealed that it took 24 hours to get the results back following his test after which he was brought immediately to hospital.
Carton, who works as a fireman, later added his gratitude for all the support that he had been receiving while laid up.
"Cheers for all the messages of support, its greatly appreciated.
"Just a quick update had a chest x-ray, found out have an infection on my lungs, on oxygen, viral meds and antibiotics to fight infection+try bump up my oxygen levels so hopefully does the job over the next few days!!"
Meanwhile a host of GAA stars have taken to the social media app to encourage the general public to follow government and HSE guidelines.
Dublin senior footballers and doctors Jack McCaffrey and Noelle Healy, Kilkenny camogie player and nurse Grace Walsh and Clare hurler Shane O'Donnell, who is a PhD researcher in microbiology, are among those to have recorded videos.
Dublin GAA asked Dr Jack McCaffrey to help share the @HSELive message to help protect yourself, your family, your teammates and your community. We ALL need to play our part to help stop the spread of coronavirus. #COVIDー19 pic.twitter.com/hqetSksRUV
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) March 15, 2020
Lets work together to protect eachother 💚 #FlattenTheCurve #itsinourhands #covid19
Ní neart go cur le chéile @WomensGPA @HSELive @dublinladiesg @LadiesFootball pic.twitter.com/mufWHD7FX5— Noëlle Healy (@NoelleHealy) March 16, 2020
Let’s help protect eachother and slow down the spread of #covid19 #itsinourhands @WomensGPA @HSELive pic.twitter.com/kwO1G8wvPe
— Grace Walsh (@GraceWalsh1) March 17, 2020
This is our opportunity to give our healthcare workers a fighting chance. #itsinourhands #covid19@gaelicplayers @HSELive pic.twitter.com/uJLIQUi1Wu
— Shane O'Donnell (@townhurler) March 17, 2020
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