Vaccinated Sinn Féin TD contracts Covid-19

Sinn Féin TD Mark Ward has revealed that he has contracted Covid-19 and is taking time off as he recovers.

Mr Ward said he was fully vaccinated and was “very lucky” to have had both doses and that while the situation could have been “much worse”, the virus had taken its toll on him.

It comes days after Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill disclosed that she had contracted Covid-19 and gone into self isolation.

Sinn Féin said that there had been no contact between the two politicians and the cases are not connected.

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Mr Ward is said to have been self-isolating since Saturday.

The Dublin Mid-West deputy said he had some symptoms that night and went to the walk-in centre in Citywest to be tested on Sunday morning.

He said in a Twitter video that he got the results that he had tested positive back on Monday.

Mr Ward said: “I have been quite sick and that’s despite getting two vaccines.

“I’m very lucky, I’m very grateful that I got the two vaccines because I have a couple of underlying conditions and I would have been much much worse without those two vaccines.

“I’m really grateful that I have received them.

“I’ve been trying to work from home since but it’s taken its toll a little bit on me. I’m not recovering as quickly as I’d like.

“So I’m going to do what I’m told for once and just take a small bit of time off.”

He said his office is still open and he hoped to be “back to myself by next week” adding: “in the meantime take care and mind yourselves”.

Ms O’Neill confirmed she had contracted Covid-19 in a Tweet on Tuesday afternoon, also stating she was double-jabbed against the disease.

“I am thankful to have had two doses of the vaccine. I’ll remain in self-isolation, and hope to return to my public duties next week,” she said.