Mum died after ‘at least 50’ caught virus at wedding
DAUGHTER PLEADS FOR PEOPLE TO AVOID GATHERINGS
A DAUGHTER has issued an anguished appeal after her mum died when 50 people caught Covid at a Derby wedding. Dalvinder Kaur-Kelly has spoken out after mum Joginder, 67, lost her fight for life just six weeks after the celebration. Dalvinder said around 100 people attended the wedding – which broke Covid restrictions – with at least 50 falling ill with the virus. Around 60 or 70 then attended the reception.
Dalvinder said she wanted to tell people not to go to huge gatherings. Dalvinder said: “My mum should still be here, but she felt pressured to go. If you are worried, don’t keep quiet – speak up.”
A DAUGHTER has issued an anguished appeal after her mum died when 50 people caught Covid at a Derby wedding.
Heartbroken Dalvinder KaurKelly has spoken out after her mum Joginder, 67, lost her fight for life just six weeks after the lavish celebration.
Dalvinder, 44, said around 100 people attended the mid-September wedding – which broke Covid restrictions – with at least 50 falling ill with the virus.
Around 60 or 70 attended the reception at the groom’s house, reports the Derby Telegraph’s sister publication Mirror.co.uk.
Dalvinder said: “My mum should still be here, but she felt pressured to go. If you are worried, don’t keep quiet – speak up.
“It is so senseless. My mother went from the wedding to being admitted to hospital in less than 10 days.
“A few weeks later we were arranging her funeral. Covid is destroying lives. I wish people would think about what they are doing.”
The wedding took place in Derby on September 19 – restrictions then meant up to 30 people could attend.
After the ceremony, Joginder went to the reception 35 miles away in Walsall. Guests at the event had travelled from as far afield as Essex, London and Liverpool.
Joginder tested positive on September 24 and was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, four days later. She died on October 30.
Dalvinder said: “I just want to tell people not to go to huge gatherings.
“There is a vaccine on its way, so make sure your loved ones are here to celebrate next Christmas and New Year.” She criticised confusing coronavirus virus advice and offers of “false hope” over vaccines. She said: “We seem to have lost that community spirit from the first wave when everyone was working together.
“The messages from the Government have been adding to the confusion and now they’re saying it’ll be back to normal by Easter. No it won’t. Coronavirus will still be here.
“People will still need to be careful and patient, wait for the vaccine to be rolled out to everyone then let’s have a real celebration next Christmas.”
The family is now fundraising for the hospital’s critical care unit. Dalvinder said: “In her final days my mum was cared for by amazing doctors and nursing staff. I will forever be grateful to them for their kindness to her.
“My last conversation with her was in a Zoom call. We were able to tell her we loved her and she said she loved us too.”
To donate visit gofundme.com/f/ critical-care-unit-queen-elizabethhospital
My mother went from the wedding to being admitted to hospital in less than 10 days.
Dalvinder Kaur-Kelly