Britain is in turmoil over Boris Johnson’s controversial lockdown rules and regulations. There’s been a huge cost to the economy. Unemployment figures have soared, and many businesses have gone to the wall. Families are struggling to buy food, and for thousands the future looks bleak.
But those are the lucky ones.
Research shows that lockdown measures driven by the pandemic could mean up to 75,000 will diefrom non-Covid causes. The death toll first began to rise when people took the ‘Stay at Home’ message literally earlier this year and avoided going to hospitals even if they required attention. Operations were then cancelled due to worries about the spread of Covid, routine screening appointments were scrapped, and academics predict the recession will also have a significant impact on the nation’s health.
Professor Chris Gale from the University of Leeds said: “The indirect death toll may well end up surpassing the direct toll of Covid.”
The situation also looks bleak for the upcoming winter, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock claiming cancer treatment can only be guaranteed if Covid-19 “stays under control.”
While the statistics themselves are horrifying, the situation becomes much more personal and difficult to face when we consider the individual lives that have been claimed. It began with the death of Kelly Smith, whose tragic case rose to prominence early on in the pandemic.
The 31-year old succumbed to bowel cancer but had posted poignant video clips online detailing her battle. She said: “It’s in my lung, it’s in my liver, it’s in my brain.”
And then, crossing her fingers, she added: “Chemotherapy – we’ll see what it does.”
On the day the first lockdown began (March 23), Kelly’s treatment was paused for 12 weeks. Describing the news, Kelly explained: “I had gone in and she had told me about the great scan results and said, ‘I think now because of the Covid, it’s a good time that we could afford to take a break.’
“She said three months and I challenged it, and I didn’t want it, I was like, ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea.’ And I said, ‘I’m not happy with three months, can we do a blood test halfway through? If we do that, then we’ve got a good idea of what’s going on.’”
During lockdown, the cancer progressed and then Kelly was informed nothing more could be done. When asked if she felt the same thing would have happened without lockdown, Kelly said: “I don’t think I’d be in this position. I’m angry at Covid because it’s made me have this six-week break, it’s made me be put into this situation now. I don’t want to die.”
Kelly passed away on June 13.
A petition calling for the government to take action, supported by Kelly’s parents, has received over 314,000 signatures, with the numbers rising rapidly.
However, away from the spotlight, there are many other cases happening in towns and cities across Britain. RT connected with two families to hear their stories about how Covid has caused them pain and suffering.
John Morrall spent the majority of his working life, along with many other men, toiling away for car manufacturer Rover. He was based at their famous factory in Tyseley in Birmingham. After leaving the production line behind, he switched paths and found employment as a gardener. Sadly, the latter part of his life was melancholy, following the loss of his beloved wife Janet 22 years ago.