A New Quay-based GP has told how the fight against coronavirus is giving him sleepless nights.

But Dr Eurig Harries also revealed how the ’gratitude and generosity’ of his patients and the surrounding community were helping him to keep going.

In addition, he made a plea for people to act responsibly by self-isolating in order to protect the NHS.

And the 49-year-old expressed his thanks to the town’s RNLI station for donating respirator masks he said would increase his own personal safety whilst treating coronavirus patients.

In an email to the Cambrian News, Dr Harries - himself a New Quay lifeboatman - wrote: “This is a worrying time for us all, which is why I’m writing this at 4am, awake yet again this week in the early hours of the morning.

“However the gratitude and generosity of my patients and community keeps me going.

“Receiving the respirator mask from the lifeboat station has been a huge relief for me and my family as it is far superior to the paper masks we have been supplied with.

“Very soon as GPs we will be making home visits to Covid-19-positive patients who are ill or dying and these new respirators will help keep me safe and able to continue to work.”

But Dr Harries disclosed he had ’grave concerns’ regarding the behaviour of some locals and visitors in the public areas of New Quay, and tourist destinations all over the county over recent weeks.

“If you, as locals or as visitors, are in the fortunate position of being able to self-isolate then please take every opportunity to do so and follow the guidance below to help keep you and others safe,” he said.

“If you have symptoms or are in household quarantine return home immediately and do not come to any public areas for the time specified on the NHS 111 website.

“If you are self-isolating then going for a walk on the beach, pier and paths when it is quiet is acceptable, but please keep your distance from others and avoid congregating on the beach, pier, beer gardens etc as this dramatically increases your risk and the risk to us all.

“For us in the NHS we will not self-isolate as we consider it our duty and our privilege to go to work to care for our patients – however, by doing so we put our own and our families’ health at risk.

“Very soon NHS hospitals and GP surgeries will be overwhelmed with the ill and dying.

“Please do not add to this burden by acting irresponsibly.

“Please do your part to protect your families, your community and your NHS.”