OUR SON IS JUST LIKE A PRISONER

A COUPLE from Essex whose son is in a care home say he is like ‘a prisoner with no parole date’ because of the 14-day isolation rule.

Sarah and Paul Eastlake have only seen Matthew, 27, (pictured, left, with his mother) who is severely autistic, five times in the last year. They are desperate for him to come home for the weekend, as he did once a month before the pandemic, but he would not be able to cope with isolation for a fortnight afterwards.

Mrs Eastlake, 53, of Harlow, said Matthew has had both doses of the vaccine and she and her husband have had their first.

She said: ‘We’re prepared to minimise contact for the fortnight before to have him home but the council don’t even consider it. They have a blanket ban. The residents are prisoners with no parole date. It’s not rational.’