Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas hopes the heightened empathy towards viruses generated by the Covid-19 pandemic can help end the stigma and reluctance to get tested for HIV.
A survey commissioned by the former dual-code international’s Tackle HIV campaign revealed 84 per cent of respondents said sexual health was a high or very high priority, but only 45 per cent would consider getting tested for HIV and just 22 per cent had tested previously.
That drop off is something Thomas, 47, hopes to tackle head on and given the entire British population has got used to testing themselves for Covid over the last two years, he is adamant a shift in attitude towards viruses can enhance his quest to dispel the HIV taboo.
