A mum and dad were so determined to follow guidance and avoid spreading Covid-19 when they got it that they gave it to their five children while caring for them in self-isolation at home.
Lucille Whiting, 38, says she and husband John followed rules and told family to stay away – unlike “irresponsible” Dominic Cummings.
But it led to their kids, aged three to 14, all falling ill too.
Lucille, a jewellery maker from Kedington, Suffolk, tested positive on April 30, shortly after John, a key worker in a food factory, showed symptoms.
And she is appalled at Mr Cummings’ behaviour. Lucille said: “For some, this will be a perfect excuse to break the rules. It was irresponsible in terms of the message it sends and the risk he posed to his own parents.
“It’s hard when you’re both ill but there was a strong possibility his little boy was going to also become ill, or had Covid but was asymptomatic. We told my in-laws to stay away.
“If we had run out of food, the volunteer group offered to drop food on the doorstep – but we didn’t even want to ask them. I hope people don’t take this as a green light to go wherever they like, with whoever.
"It’s frightening how detached people have become from infection and death figures. Behind every number is a person. That could easily have been us.”
John, 42, got cold-like symptoms and then Lucille had chest pains, nausea and sickness. It got so bad her doctor called an ambulance. She needed IV fluids and medication but was later discharged – and developed shingles.
She said: “While all this was going on, the children became unwell too. My eight-year-old, Joshua, was first. He was so scared. His temperature was over 40 and he couldn’t breathe. His six-year-old sister, Freyja, went down two days later.”
Alex, 14, Sophia, 12, and Elijah, three, also became sick. Lucille said: “My husband was able to move around. I kept the sickest children cuddled up with me, while he cared for the others.
“Four weeks on, some of the children are having paracetamol for headaches, although it’s slowly getting better now.”
