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Co Derry GAA club offers ground as coronavirus field hospital

Croke Park stadium in Dublin is being used as a testing facility for Covid-19. Picture by Brian Lawless, Press Association
Croke Park stadium in Dublin is being used as a testing facility for Covid-19. Picture by Brian Lawless, Press Association Croke Park stadium in Dublin is being used as a testing facility for Covid-19. Picture by Brian Lawless, Press Association

A GAA club in Co Derry has offered its premises to be used as field hospital if the coronavirus outbreak worsens.

Michael Davitt GAC in Swatragh said its grounds could also be used as testing facility.

"We would be happy for our premises to be used as a field hospital in the event that its needed in the impending onslaught from the coronavirus," a spokesman for the club said.

"Going by what we have seen and read it seems like this it is a certainty that we are facing an unprecedented crisis.

"We have the premises, location and facilities to offer a viable option for a field hospital.

"A risk assessment already exists from the blood donation service in regards of facilities."

The spokesman said the club wanted to make the offer now "before it is too late to set this up once backs are against the wall".

He said the club's grounds would also "be an ideal location as a testing facility".

The home of GAA at Croke Park in Dublin has been operating as a 'drive-thru' Covid-19 testing facility since last week.

Ulster Rugby has also offered the use of its Kingspan Stadium in Belfast to the Department of Health.

Club CEO Jonny Petrie said the club has offered the ground "should it be required in any guise - be that drive-through testing or other community services".

"I know that our friends @OfficialIrishFA & @UlsterGAA have done the same for venues across the province," he tweeted.