KEITH’S STORY, PLUS ALL THE LATEST ON COVID AND VACCINATIONS
DAUGHTER’S HEARTFELT PLEA TO AVOID MORE COVID MISERY
THERE will be more than 1,100 empty places at Christmas dinner tables across Leicestershire this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
A virus that this time last year barely anyone had even heard of has torn apart the lives of thousands since the first weeks of 2020.
Across the city and county, Covid19 has been cited as the cause of death of 1,128 people.
Each one of them leaves behind friends and family they may not have seen in the days, weeks or even months before their deaths.
One of the victims was Keith Yates, who would have sat watching on as the family he loved so dearly celebrated Christmas – his favourite time of year.
Keith, 73, who was a husband, dad and granddad, died in April after being admitted to hospital with coronavirus.
He had battled cancer for 16 years before falling ill with Covid-19.
His daughter, Lisa, donned full PPE and sat with her dad as he took his last breath.
She is now pleading with people to think about the impact of their actions this Christmas, so that more families don’t experience the same heartbreak.
“This Christmas will not be the same,” she said.
“It was his favourite time of year, and everything seems to provoke memories of happy family times.
“I have found myself bursting into tears in the aisles of Sainsbury’s, seeing the presents I bought my dad last year... wanting to buy the daft soap on a rope he loved.
“I have frozen in the card aisle realising I won’t ever be buying a
Mum and Dad card again. I’ve sobbed driving to work hearing those Christmas songs he loved. And still, people are dying of this dreadful virus.”
Lisa told the Mercury that politicians arguing over tier rules and people complaining about missing out on a “normal” Christmas has been hard to hear, knowing her dad won’t be here this year. She added: “I see people moaning about missing work parties, worrying which family members to have over for Christmas, getting angry about their ‘ human rights’ being taken away, and for anyone that has lost a loved one to Covid, it is incredibly frustrating and at times
I have found myself bursting into tears in the aisles of Sainsbury’s, seeing the presents I bought my dad last year
I have struggled to contain my anger.
“There will be millions who will have one less person sat around the table this year.
“This isn’t because of the restrictions, but because someone has died. They haven’t got the luxury of picking up the phone to speak to that person, or sending them a gift in the post to let them know you’re thinking of them.
Instead they will be remembering how quickly Covid devastated their lives.
“The distressing way their loved one died, probably alone and scared.
“The shock and disbelief when you realise you won’t ever see that person again, that you can’t even say goodbye to them in the usual way, and the horror of knowing that in some cases it could have been avoided.”
With the rules being slightly relaxed on Christmas Day only, there are concerns that a third wave will be triggered, leadiing to even more people dying from the virus.
Officials, leaders and experts are urging people to exercise caution.
But Lisa, a police officer, believes hearing it from someone who knows and has experienced the heartbreak the virus can cause first-hand, might make the difference between people following the guidance and going too far.
“It is clear that Covid is still uncontrollable,” she said.
“The numbers are rising again and I am still shocked and saddened when I hear of someone that has died from the virus.
“I feel scared and anxious about the ease on restrictions around Christmas, because I know it’s going to result in the spread of the virus. “My view is that the government have bowed to pressure from the public to instill some ‘normality’ when really we should accept that this year is anything but normal.
“I feel the ease in restrictions makes a mockery of all the work that the NHS have done and other services such as the police – how can I be issuing a fine for a party one minute, and the following day, be telling them it’s all ok?
“Most of all I think it makes a mockery of all the people that have died.
“We are essentially saying that Christmas is more important than losing a loved one.”
What’s your view? Share your thoughts by e-mailing us at:
I feel anxious about the ease on restrictions because I know it’s going to result in the spread of the virus