Virus fears for my vulnerable Betsy
I’M FRIGHTENED that the Government has failed to adopt the rest of the world’s much more protective measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus. My two-year-old daughter Betsy has Down’s syndrome, which means she is immune-compromised. She has a long-standing respiratory issues as a result of being born prematurely. Betsy is battling persistent bacterial bronchitis and spent the first half of last week in hospital. I fear that if she gets coronavirus, she will die. She is one of many vulnerable people who are not being protected by the Government’s herd immunity approach. I have cancelled a Rock Choir event to celebrate World Down’s Syndrome Day on Saturday which would have raised funds to provide support packs to families who have had a baby with this condition. I didn’t need to be told to do this because I took the sensible approach that vulnerable people need to be protected from coming into contact with this devastating virus. Should I accept Government advice that schools and nurseries do not need to close? Do I send my daughter out and about in society, to mingle with people who may possibly have the virus without knowing it? Or do I follow the advice from the World Health Organisation to protect children like her? Betsy won’t be attending nursery for the foreseeable future and she will not be going out in public. However, my partner still has to go to work. He has to leave the house, use public transport, mingle with hundreds of people every day and then come home to us. He is strong and healthy, so probably wouldn’t know if he gets coronavirus, but the risk to Betsy is extreme. What do we do in this situation? There is no support for carers of the disabled.
RACHEl MEWES, New Hartley, Tyne & Wear.