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We’re STILL living in Covid lockdown hell with constant hand washing, social distancing & masks – we have no choice
Mason said he doesn't get invited out now by pals and Mandy won't go to work if anyone else is in
A MUM and son say they're still living in a Covid lockdown hell - with constant hand washing, social distancing and mask wearing.
Mandy Milne, 59, and her 22-year-old child Mason say they have no choice but to treat everyday as if it's still 2020 and the whole world is enduring a global pandemic.
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All of the Government rules first introduced four years ago this month, are still a part of daily life for the Milnes, from Essex.
Mandy and her husband Gordon say they are forced to avoid supermarkets - ordering their shops online only - because of their son's health battles.
The family say they cannot attend jam-packed social events and if they do step outside of their home comforts, mask and intense hand-washing are part of their trip.
Mason was diagnosed with Crohn's in 2017 and is severely immunocompromised.
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A mutated Covid variant, nicknamed "Pirola" is the latest strain to do the rounds.
A new vaccination drive was brought forward due to fears over the new bug.
So far, the BA.2.86 strain hasn't caused a huge uptick in cases.
And the best way to test for Covid is to do a lateral flow test.
The illness's past telltale signs, like the loss of sense of taste or smell, a hacking cough, and shortness of breath, have become less common.
Dr Erick Eiting from Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York, US, said: "It isn’t the same typical symptoms that we were seeing before.
"It’s a lot of congestion, sometimes sneezing, usually a mild sore throat."
If you're at increased risk of illness from COVID-19, getting a COVID-19 vaccine gives you good protection and helps to:
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COVID-19 vaccines are offered because viruses change, and protection fades over time.
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The COVID-19 vaccines can cause some side effects, but not everyone gets them.
Who is eligible for a spring booster?
You'll be able to claim a dose in a couple months time if you're:
- an adult aged 75 years and over;
- a residents in a care home for older adults; or
- immunosuppressed and aged five years and over
If you're part of one of these vulnerable groups, you'll have to wait six months after your previous dose to get the spring booster, the JCVI said.
NHSE is set to provide further operational details on the programme in due course.
The committee also confirmed which vaccines health professionals can use this spring.
These are:
- Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent
- Moderna bivalent
- Sanofi/GSK monovalent (beta variant)
- Novavax monovalent (wild-type variant) – but only when alternative products are not considered clinically suitable
Which vaccine you're offered will depend on your age and supply in your local area.
The JCVI noted that Children under 12 will be offered a children’s formulation of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.
The young lad has to take chemotherapy tablets daily and inject himself fortnightly with biologics.
For most people, Covid-19 symptoms are mild.
But Mason's family have chosen to isolate as he could become seriously ill if he catches Covid because of his underlying condition.
Mandy has now told how "difficult" life is for her family.
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She told the : "Doing anything during the pandemic was a nightmare - but it still is now.
"We wipe our food deliveries down, avoid supermarkets, wash our hands after touching anything outside and take Covid tests regularly.
"I carry a mask in my pocket at all times, but I don't go near people so I don't feel the need to wear it."
Inside abandoned Morrisons store closed in Covid that’s sat empty for 4 years with old TV guides littered everywhere
Mandy said life for her household is worse now than when restrictions were in place.
Mason, who has also suffers with autism, said he doesn't get invited out by pals anymore and only socialises with his family.
Shockingly, Mandy also says she can't go to work at her part-time cleaners job unless she's sure no one else is going to be in.
The worried mum said the pandemic "one billion percent" put Mason's life on hold and she now fears daily he will get ill.
Before the country was put under strict rules to stay indoors, Mason attended college, had driving lessons and enjoyed going out.
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But now, she says he's restricted to going for a walk around his block alone if he needs fresh air.
Mason now runs a podcast aimed at others who have Crohn's and autism in an attempt to interact with the outside world.
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