By Laura Michell
A Gisborne GP is providing the community with regular updates about COVID-19 on Facebook in a bid to stop the “scaremongering” and spread of incorrect information.
Neal Street Medical Clinic’s Dr Umair Masood began writing the daily updates in early March in response to the growing number of questions patients had about coronavirus.
“We were getting so many questions from so many patients … there is a lot of scaremongering and false information out there. I wanted to get the information out there,” Dr Masood said.
“I wanted to inform people about what is happening locally.”
Dr Masood said he was “blown away” by the popularity of his updates, with the posts reaching thousands of people each day as patients share his information with their friends and family.
He said that even though the Macedon Ranges has only recorded a small number of COVID-19 cases, it was important that everyone abided by state and federal government regulations and did their part to stop the spread of the virus.
“I tell people that you should assume everyone has got it and behave accordingly,” Dr Masood said.
“Just because there are five cases, it doesn’t mean you can take your foot off the pedal.”
Dr Masood said the most common question people had was ‘when is it going to finish?’
“In my opinion, it will last six months,” he said.
The Neal Street Medical Clinic has also set up a respiratory clinic in its basement to enable it to treat patients with respiratory issues.
“We don’t want to turn people away who are unwell,” Dr Masood said.
“Anyone with coughs, colds, sniffles and chest issues, we talk to them on the phone in the carpark and check they don’t meet the guidelines {forCOVID-19]. If they meet the guidelines, they get referred to hospital.
“The respiratory clinic is completely isolated and has a separate entrance.”
To follow Dr Masood’s updates, visit: www.facebook.com/NealStreetMedicalClinic
