Ramsgate councillor’s coronavirus plea after crash leads to hospital check up

Tony Ovenden is asking people to take the virus seriously and follow government advice

A Ramsgate councillor is asking residents to take the coronavirus crisis seriously after he was taken to hospital following a crash yesterday (March 26).

Emergency services were called to the two car crash in Margate Road, by the College Road/Princes Road junction, at 10am.

One of the drivers, district councillor Tony Ovenden, was returning home after carrying out food deliveries to those unable to get shopping due to the coronavirus spread.

Although there were no serious injuries Cllr Ovenden was taken to A&E and while he was there staff asked about a dry cough he had.

He said: “Last Friday I arrived from Egypt it was 28 Celsius. Where we were staying was virus free and we were following home office advice . We left as a precautionary measure nothing else. Next day I went to work it was 6 Celsius on a open platform. It felt like the ice age at work.

“After three days I developed a slight cold and a dry cough. This always happens when I come home from Egypt, I knew what I had was a slight cold, it is typical. When I had the accident the powder from the air bag and the blow to the chest caused me to cough persistently.

“At A & E the doctor picked this up. She asked me about other symptoms regarding the virus of which I did not have. As I had been to Egypt she decided to get me tested anyway. The results were negative. I was advised to self isolate as I am over 60 and my wife is older than me.

“I had to wear a mask and went through the procedures for testing for coronavirus, ending up in a room full of some very sick people.

“The staff were wearing masks, gowns, which was something I have never seen before. I could sense this pressure the NHS staff were under, yet there was also this calm about them. One thing for sure was this was for real, i was not watching Holby City or Casualty. It was something I have never witnessed before.

“One poor man was literally gasping for air with breathing difficulties, it was not a pretty sight. I can only assume he must have the coronavirus. This really did wake me up to the point that I forgot about my car accident.

“I was given the all clear, just a cold, but my chest and breathing still does not feel right. I have been told I must self-isolate with my wife for 14 days and any problems contact my GP. All I can say to anyone a little bit sceptical about the coronavirus, just please follow the guidelines, this is very much for real.”

A Kent Police spokesman said: “Kent Police received a report of a two car-collision at 10.01am on Thursday, March 26.

“Officers attended the scene in Margate Road, Ramsgate and assisted with vehicle recovery. No injuries were reported.”

Symptoms:

A high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)

A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Stay at home.

Use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do.

Use the 111 coronavirus service at https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19/

Government curbs to slow the virus spread

Only go out if you are:

  • shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible
  • one form of exercise a day – for example, a run, walk or cycle – alone or with members of their household
  • any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
  • travelling to and from work, but only where they cannot work from home

Participating in gatherings of more than two people in public spaces is also not permitted except in very limited circumstances, for example, where it is for essential work purposes.

19 Comments

  1. How irresponsible from a councillor. Just returned from Egypt, developed a cough, not only didn’t he self isolate, he was doing deliveries to the vulnerable. Its no wonder the public are not following the rules when a councillor cant.

    • my thoughts too. where is the brain of this councillor. only came back from Egypt a few days before, be ashamed of yourself councillor Tony Ovenden. I do realise that volunteering is so important in this crisis but not being sensible about where and when you volunteer is disgraceful.

  2. Hope you are getting better Tony you are right some people are still not taking this seriously any one can get this people need to stay in only worrying thing is lack of masks around chemists don’t seem to stock them for sale to the public.

  3. Well said David, what on earth was he doing outside his house in these circumstances despite his laudable intentions. Everyone needs to follow the guidelines.

  4. Let me get this right this knob has just come back from Egypt had a dry cough, but thought it was ok to not self isolate but to go shopping for the ones that cant get out.
    Words fail me , he than tells us to take it seriously when in didnt. I hope he hasnt infected anyone when doing his shopping.
    Unbelievable stupid

  5. Another person hiding behind a false name BIGNOSE ? Who.are you put your face on face book so people can see who you are. People like that haven’t got the guts to show themselves.what ever the councillor done right or wrong it’s cowardly to insult people in that way.

  6. Really so the fact he could have infected loads of people with this killer virus and all you are bothered about is my user name . Well he was a knob !

  7. His intention might have been to do good but anyone with half a brain cell knows if you start to show symptoms you self isolate, not go shopping.

  8. and why did you break the law Tony Ovenden to put your party to more shame with your leader blaming the virus for his football team to not be relagated. You also work at the stations so think of all the people you might have infected unless your station work has stopped.
    All those people passing through the station ffs sack him !

    • Rick Everitt made a very insensitively-worded comment. He did not actually blame coronavirus for anything to do with football.

  9. Well Brain Smith Stewart if I am a carrier I have been in self isolation since last Thursday. Havent Been out of the house because someone in our house showed symptoms, a dry cough , and was told to self isolate immediately. I think I have a right to call people who ignore the governments advice anything I want. I have been inside my house for 8 days now climbing the walls with another 6 days to go. I am not showing signs. I feel fine , i want to go for a walk etc. But am doing as the government ask and i am staying indoors.

    Who in their right mind comes back from Egypt and developes a cough and doesn’t self isolate ? It was madness not to self isolate, we have been told for weeks now any signs self isolate.
    Sorry if you think I am rude and yes I might be but I am angry about the amount of people not doing as the government asks. I want to be out there helping not stuck in doors, if I ignore the self isolate I might be passing it on. It’s a bit rich for a councillor to follow the governments advice and he doesnt . Is it ?

  10. Edit
    It’s a bit rich for a councillor to say follow the governments advice than he ignores it

  11. Another insulter Rebecca hooper have never made a mistake in your life like the rest of the insulter a taking up comments as a matter of fact you cannot sack a councillor they have to be the elected with a by-election that won’t happen for a long time like the by-election on Newington.

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