THE MUM of a nurse who died of Covid-19 has urged Brits to “rethink” their Christmas plans because the disease “is still deadly”.
Rebecca Mack, 29, was found dead at her home in Morpeth, Northumberland, in April.
The NHS nurse was self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms.
Her parents Marion and Alan have urged families to take care over the festive period and protect both themselves and their loved ones from catching the virus.
Marion, 60, told Chronicle Live: “We are quite concerned that people will go crazy over Christmas.
“You can’t stop people meeting at Christmas, but people should try and do that at a distance.
“This year you can show your love by staying away and not getting too close.
‘KILLER VIRUS’
“If we can just stick it out that little bit longer until people get vaccinated there won’t be so many deaths.
“This virus is still a killer.”
The family’s warning recalls concerns by experts that Christmas meetings could lead to further infections and Covid-related deaths.
Prof Devi Sridhar, the chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, told The Guardian: “If people [aren’t] cautious, then we will pay for our Christmas parties with January and February lockdowns.
“With a vaccine just weeks away, why risk infecting vulnerable and elderly people we love?”
Professor Susan of Mitchie, a psychologist at University College London and member of Sage, insists the “best thing” to keep loved ones safe is simply “not see them”.
Rebecca’s parents have urged Brits not to be “selfish” at Christmas and consider how risky it can be to meet others while the virus is still widespread.
The nurse had worked in the children’s cancer unit at Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle and had then taken on a role with NHS 111.
Her mum said Rebecca lived alone and was self-isolating with Covid-19 symptoms.
She had told her family she was feeling better, but hours later police officers told the family Rebecca had been found dead.
The nurse had called an ambulance and had left the door open, but when paramedics arrived she was dead.
Her family said that tests later confirmed she had Covid-19.
Marion and Alan have said they will meet their son Joe, 26, at Christmas “but at a distance”.
They said: “We will maybe have him in the house but with the doors open. That will probably be it.
“We might drop some presents off on people’s doorsteps, but we won’t go in.”
They have urged other families to do the same in a bid to prevent further Covid-19 infections and deaths.
According to the latest data, 21,502 more people have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of infections in the UK to 1,830,956.
Coronavirus deaths in the UK rose by 519 today, figures released by the Department of Health and Social Care showed.
The total number of Covid-related deaths in the UK now stands at 64,026.
