An 82-year-old man, who was hospitalised with Covid-19 for ten days, said that elderly people should remain as positive as possible in their outlook during the crisis as he survived the illness.

Paddy Joe Lynch, who is from Ballinameen outside Boyle, Co Roscommon, told RTÉ News he suffers from angina and COPD, but thanks to the wonderful care of the staff at Sligo University Hospital, he has made a full recovery and is back at home again.

Speaking on RTÉ's Ray D'Arcy show, the father-of-six, grandfather-of-seven, and great-grandfather-of-three (with one on the way) said he is tired, and weak but he has "neither pain nor ache."

He also said he intends to return to his duties as a part-time stonemason soon.

Mr Lynch said he was collecting turf on a nearby bog two weeks ago when he experienced sharp chest pains.

He was brought to the hospital where he was diagnosed with the coronavirus following a test.

He was given his own room and when he went into it he said to himself "well that's the end of me" because of his underlying medical condition, but he said he remained positive and prayed to God.

Mr Lynch said he found it very lonely but he maintained a positive outlook throughout the experience and he was delighted when the doctor told him he had made a full recovery and had a clean bill of health.

He said he had a special message for anybody who was elderly and vulnerable due to underlying medical issues to stay positive and not to listen or watch the news too much.