A HEARTBROKEN daughter who lost her mum to coronavirus has slammed the “selfishness” of people who continue to leave their homes.
Brenda Doherty said her family was “devastated” by the death of her mum Ruth Burke, 82, and has urged Brits: “If you value life, stay in.”
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Her mum became Northern Ireland’s fourth victim of Covid-19 which has already claimed the lives of 340 people in the UK.
She didn't get a chance to say goodbye to her mum before she died and is furious after seeing pictures of Brits ignoring government advice by going outside.
Images taken this morning showed the Underground packed once again and shoppers ignoring social distancing orders by standing too close to each other.
Tubes are becoming overloaded after some workers felt forced to work as the network operates a reduced service – resulting in carriages getting rammed.
Ms Doherty said: "To those of you who out there are being so selfish in gathering in packs – wise up. How selfish can you be?"
"My mum was not just a statistic. She was a woman who had unbelievable strength and suffered many challenges in her life.
TRAGIC LOSS
"Unfortunately this was one that she was not going to overcome."
Ruth's family could not be with her when she died or afterwards due to the risk of infection.
Ms Doherty added: "We will not see her in her coffin.
"We will not get to give her a kiss but I know we did that when it mattered and that was when mummy was alive.
"We kept our mum safe as best we could until we could not keep her safe anymore."
To those of you who out there are being so selfish in gathering in packs – wise up. How selfish can you be?
Ms Doherty used an emotional social media post to say she was down to her last half bottle of handwash because shop shelves were empty.
She added: "My mum would not believe how people would be behaving. She would have thought better of society."
And Ms Doherty thanked those helping the vulnerable.
She said: "My mum was a woman who lived her life to the full. She had lots of hard times in her life but she valued life.
"If you value life you will stay home to do as we have been asked.
"My mum may be the fourth person to pass of Covid-19 but the sad reality is she probably won't be the last."
SELFISH
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt today said one million Brits will have caught deadly coronavirus by next week – but warned we won't know who.
He said that it "may be too late" for Britain to avoid becoming like Italy, which has suffered one of the worst outbreaks of Covid-19.
Mr Hunt told MPs that scientific modelling has shown that the expected death rate was one fatality for every 1,000 cases.
Based on the most recent mortality figures, that means more than 300,000 people have already contracted the virus in Britain.
And if that number doubles every five days – as experts suggest – there could be more than one million cases by the end of next week, he said.
Mr Hunt added: "Unless we radically change direction, we won't know where they are."
He is now urging for testing to be stepped up dramatically if we are to get the coronavirus outbreak under control.
His comments come after Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night ordered a three-week lockdown of the UK in a bid to tackle the coronavirus "national emergency".
It comes as:
- Sadiq Khan REFUSES to up train capacity as Brits continue to cram on to busy Tubes
- Boris Johnson texts EVERY Brit to tell them to stay home
- Cops warn they may not be able to cope with enforcing lockdown rules
- Landlords have been holding prohibition-style lock-ins despite the ban
- Brits have been making each other laugh with hilarious coronavirus memes
- Dr Hillary answers your coronavirus concerns HERE
COPS TO USE DRONES TO ENFORCE LOCKDOWN
It emerged today that cops will use drones to spy on coronavirus lawbreakers and enforce the lockdown.
Northamptonshire Police says it will use eight to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The flying machines are set to use them to link to speakers to instruct people to go indoors if they are breaking the law.
They would be controlled by trained officers on the ground.
The new approach, police say, will give officers across the country better and speedier access to the latest technology.
It would also ensure a rapid deployment when needed that will ultimately have a significant impact on the response to serious incidents.
Inspector Mark Holland, who is leading the scheme for Northamptonshire Police, said: "Day in, day out, response officers are first on the scene of all kinds of serious incidents.
"Giving them better access to drones means that they are able to quickly take control and respond to save lives and fight crime in the best way."
Northamptonshire Police have already purchased two drones as part of a ten-month trial to make the technology more available to response teams.
Eight officers have already learned how to pilot the two new drones and associated equipment, including thermal imaging binoculars, at a cost of £35,000.
But six further are now expected to be purchased at a further cost of £100,000.
Nick Adderley, chief constable of Northamptonshire Police, added: “My ask is that we purchase a further six drones and what we could do is use them to put out public information messages.
"What is becoming really clear is that the public appetite for information is insatiable and this would be a good and cost effective way to do it."
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