Northern Ireland

GAA club member tests positive for Covid-19 after Limavady area outbreak

The grounds at St Matthew's GAC in the village of Drumsurn, near Limavady in Co Derry. Picture by Picture Margaret McLaughlin
The grounds at St Matthew's GAC in the village of Drumsurn, near Limavady in Co Derry. Picture by Picture Margaret McLaughlin

A GAA club member in Co Derry has tested positive for Covid-19 following a cluster of cases in the community.

St Mary's in Banagher yesterday confirmed a club member had contracted the virus.

The club was among 10 which suspended activity "as a precautionary measure" in recent days following the localised outbreak.

A cluster of Covid-19 cases had been identified last week which were linked to a social gathering at a house in the Limavady area.

It is understood the cluster was discovered in the nearby village of Drumsurn.

In response, 10 GAA clubs in the surrounding area – Drumsurn, St Colm's Drum, Glack, Limavady, Foreglen, Claudy, Ardmore, Magilligan, Banagher and Craigbane – announced they were temporarily halting activities.

None of the clubs at that time had reported any positive coronavirus cases.

In an update yesterday, the executive committee of St Mary's GAC in Banagher said: "We have been advised a club member has tested positive for Covid-19, and is following instructions from the Public Heath Agency.

"All relevant people have been contacted and the Public Health Agency will contact any club member if they feel there is a concern. We will keep you up to date of any information received from them.

"The GAA has advised the club to continue as normal, although we have decided to cancel all underage training until further notice."

The club advised anyone with symptoms or concerns to phone 111 or the Public Health Agency (PHA)

A testing unit has been set up at Limavady's North West Regional College following the Covid-19 cluster.

It is believed a karaoke party – in which partygoers may have transmitted the virus by passing around a microphone – could have been the cause of the outbreak, the Belfast Telegraph reported.

Last week, the PHA's Dr Gerry Waldron said a local lockdown was "not needed" at this stage.

However, he said it was "significant" that positive cases had been identified not just among those at the gathering, but also people who attendees had later been in contact with.

"This is really highlighting the importance of people maintaining and keeping advice in terms of social distancing and in terms of their interactions," he told the BBC.

He added: "This doesn't apply here, because we have identified a very discrete event, but if we found a geographical area had a higher rate of Covid-19 and we weren't finding any specific reason why that might be happening, then a local lockdown is one of the issues that would be considered."

Competitive Gaelic club fixtures resumed across Ireland on Friday, although spectators are not permitted at games in the north.

In the south, attendances of up to 200 including teams and officials are permitted.