A daughter mourning her mum has urged people not to feel "pressured" to break coronavirus restrictions by attending parties.
As Tier 4 restrictions come into force for the majority of England today (December 31), cramming into homes and clubs for New Year's Eve parties is strictly prohibited.
For anyone tempted to break the rules against mixing households, one devastated woman has shared a warning about the potential impact it could have.
Dalvinder Kaur-Kelly's mum Joginder, 67, died after contracting coronavirus at a wedding in mid September.
The Mirror reports that around 100 guests attended, in breach of Covid restrictions, with at least 50 being infected with the virus.
Dalvinder, whose mum was cared for at the Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said: “My mum should still be here, but she felt pressured to go. If you are worried, don’t keep quiet – speak up.
"It is so senseless. My mother went from the wedding to being admitted to hospital in less than 10 days.
"A few weeks later we were arranging her funeral."
The wedding took place in Derby on September 19, when up to 30 people were allowed to attend.
After the ceremony Joginder went to the reception 35 miles away in Walsall.
Guests at the event had reportedly travelled from as far afield as Essex, London and Liverpool.
Joginder tested positive on September 24 and was admitted to hospital four days later, and died in October.
Her daughter said: “I just want to tell people not to go to huge gatherings.
“There is a vaccine on its way, so make sure your loved ones are here to celebrate next Christmas and New Year.”
In a tearful interview with BBC Radio 5 Live last week, she pleaded with listeners to "please, please be careful".
"Covid is real and it's destroying lives"
Dalvinder added: "If you're going to host something, a gathering, be compliant - if you can, please don't involve clinically vulnerable people in your plans.
"A mere invitation from somebody can be pressure, please don't feel pressured and speak up.
"Covid is real. It's there and it's destroying lives."
The family is now fundraising for the hospital’s critical care unit.
Writing on their GoFundMe page, Dalvinder said: "In her final days my mum was cared for by amazing doctors and nursing staff.
"I will forever be grateful to them for their kindness to her.
"My last conversation with her was in a Zoom call. We were able to tell her we loved her and she said she loved us too."
To donate visit: gofundme.com/f/critical-care-unit-queen-elizabeth-hospital
