A man in the U.K. has shared his devastating story after losing his elderly parents and sister to coronavirus in the space of two weeks.
Keith MacVicar, 84, and his wife Jean MacVicar, 82, both died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, around a fortnight ago, The Derby Telegraph reported.
Their daughter Jayne Harvey, 62, from Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire, started displaying coronavirus symptoms shortly after their deaths.
Her brother Richard MacVicar initially took to Facebook to urge people to pray for his sister's recovery. But he then shared that she too had died from the illness over the Easter weekend.
He said that losing so many members of his immediate family in such a short period of time was "so, so wrong."
"It's with heartbreaking regret to say Jayne has lost her battle for life," he wrote, according to the newspaper.
"At least we have the comfort of knowing she is back with mum and dad. To lose half your family in the space of two weeks feels like someone has cut me open and stolen my heart. So, so wrong."
MacVicar has been contacted for additional comment.
Friends and family members shared their condolences on Facebook, with Joanne MacVicar writing: "What a wonderful man and so proud to call him my Father-in-Law."
"I've no words. Thinking of you Richard. Stay strong. Never lose that smile. Thoughts are with you. God bless," Rachel Foster-Wakeman wrote.
Harvey, who once worked as a crime analyst for Staffordshire Police, had shared multiple posts on Facebook urging people to follow social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic. She had also recently changed her profile picture on Facebook to one that included a caption that read: "Stay home, it could save lives."
The U.K. is in its fourth week under lockdown, with people permitted to leave their homes only for a few reasons, such as shopping for necessities, for medical or health reasons or to travel to and from work—but only if they cannot work from home. They are also permitted to leave their homes for one form of exercise a day.
Those restrictions are expected to stay in place as the U.K's death toll continues to rise. "We have come too far, lost too many loved ones and sacrificed too much to ease up," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said during a news conference on Monday.
The U.K. has more than 88,000 cases of coronavirus and at least 11,000 deaths, according to the latest figures from Public Health England. More than 900 of those cases are in Staffordshire.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advice on Using Face Coverings to Slow Spread of COVID-19
- CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering in public where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
- A simple cloth face covering can help slow the spread of the virus by those infected and by those who do not exhibit symptoms.
- Cloth face coverings can be fashioned from household items. Guides are offered by the CDC. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html)
- Cloth face coverings should be washed regularly. A washing machine will suffice.
- Practice safe removal of face coverings by not touching eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash hands immediately after removing the covering.
World Health Organization advice for avoiding spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Hygiene advice
- Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub.
- Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before, during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste.
- Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.
Medical advice
- Avoid close contact with others if you have any symptoms.
- Stay at home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and runny nose, to avoid potential spread of the disease to medical facilities and other people.
- If you develop serious symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and contact local health authorities in advance.
- Note any recent contact with others and travel details to provide to authorities who can trace and prevent spread of the disease.
- Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.
Mask and glove usage
- Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person.
- Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
- Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning.
- Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask.
- Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of the mask.
- Do not reuse single-use masks.
- Regularly washing bare hands is more effective against catching COVID-19 than wearing rubber gloves.
- The COVID-19 virus can still be picked up on rubber gloves and transmitted by touching your face.
