Amid the Coronavirus crisis, Ireland’s Prime Minister has re-registered as a medical practitioner to support his country.
Leo Varadkar spent seven years working as a doctor before transitioning to a career in politics, which led to his removal from the medical register in 2013.
In an effort to contribute to Ireland’s response to the pandemic, he re-enlisted on the medical register in March and volunteered to work one shift a week for Ireland’s Health Service Executive.
A spokesperson from his office explained, “Many of his family and friends are working in the health service. He wanted to help out even in a small way.”
Reports from The Irish Times indicate that Mr. Varadkar is assisting with phone assessments, conducting initial tests for individuals who may have been exposed to the virus over the phone.
As of Sunday, Ireland has reported 21 additional deaths from Coronavirus, bringing the total to 158, with confirmed cases of the disease rising to 4,994.