The mother of a young NHS nurse killed by Covid-19 has begged families to reconsider Christmas gatherings because "this virus is still a killer".
Qualified children's nurse Rebecca Mack, 29, was found dead at her home in Morpeth, Northumberland, in April while she was self-isolating with symptoms.
Her grieving parents Marion and Alan, who also contracted coronavirus in April, are facing their first Christmas without Rebecca, and they have urged families to be careful over the festive season to protect their loved ones and curb the spread of the disease.
Marion, 60, told ChronicleLive: "We are quite concerned that people will go crazy over Christmas. You can't stop people meeting at Christmas, but people should try and do that at a distance.
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This year you can show your love by staying away and not getting too close.
"If we can just stick it out that little bit longer until people get vaccinated there won't be so many deaths.
"This virus is still a killer."
Rebecca had worked in the children's cancer unit at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) before taking on a role with NHS 111.
She lived alone and kept in touch with her parents by phone while isolating with symptoms.
She told her mum she was feeling better, but just hours later Marion was awakened by police officers, who told her Rebecca had been found dead.
Rebecca had called for an ambulance and left her door open. She was dead when paramedics arrived, her family said.
Tests confirmed she had coronavirus.
In the months since then, her mum has been saddened by the fact that some people are not taking the pandemic seriously.
She said: "People have to realise it's not just about you it's about other people.
"Some people are just plain selfish, but some people just don't understand."
Marion and Alan, 62, have dedicated time to helping others during the crisis and have set up a JustGiving page in their daughter's memory.
Almost £20,000 has been raised to support the the RVI's Children's Cancer Fund, which helps patients on the wards where Rebecca worked.
Alan has donated blood plasma 12 times to help treat Covid-19 patients.
The couple have decided to spend Christmas at home together. Their son Joe, 26, will visit but they will keep a safe distance with doors and windows open.
Marion said: "It is hard, we have ups and downs.
"But because Rebecca was such a positive person we are still putting the tree up and will do our best to make it as normal as possible.
"But it will be a really difficult morning waking up without her there."
She added: "I think we will be meeting with my son but at a distance.
"We will maybe have him in the house but with the doors open. That will probably be it.
"We might drop some presents off on people's doorsteps, but we won't go in."
