THE family of 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab did what they were supposed to.
When two of the teen’s siblings started displaying symptoms of coronavirus they obeyed the government’s strict lockdown rules and went into self-isolation, even though that meant they could not be with their brother when he died.
They stayed in lockdown for two weeks even though that meant the entire family had to miss his funeral. At about the same time as Ismail died, Dominic Cummings, his wife and their son were already in Durham, in clear breach of the government rules.
The fury and frustration over Boris Johnson’s key advisor’s disregard for the regulations was palpable on social media.
The SNP’s Anne McLaughlin said she had been inundated with correspondence from constituents angry with Cummings.
She also shared the plight of her 84-year-old uncle who splits his time between his home in Gourock and the houses of his daughters in the Lake District.
When the restrictions were put in place, her uncle was in Scotland. She tweeted: “My cousins asked me could they come and get him and I said no. They asked could they not use their own judgement and I said no.
“I was right even though it has meant he is alone, losing weight, hope, mobility and wondering if this is how he will end his life. They call him every day and he has carers (thank God for #carers) but every day they worry they made the wrong decision.
“They didn’t because #StayHomeSaveLives is more than just a hashtag, it means something. But now I am worried sick they will drive up and get him because the PM is basically saying ‘interpret the guidelines as suits your family’.”
READ MORE: Dominic Cummings and PM at the centre of a classic political scandal
Disability, equality and human rights activist Pam Duncan-Glancy tweeted: “The day of my Dad’s funeral, I got to spend one hour with my sister, two metres apart. After the service we couldn’t go home to the same house to laugh, cry and remember him together.
“We did the right thing, even though it felt so much like the wrong thing. I am seething tonight.”
Laura Grimshaw said: “I have been out twice since March 19. My stepdad died of Covid-19. I attended his funeral, and read a tribute, via a video call.
“My mum is on her own. I haven’t seen her since March 5. I haven’t hugged her. We have grieved via video call. Angry doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
Journalist Angela Haggerty said: “My son has only seen his dad, a key worker, twice since he was born. He hasn’t met his siblings yet. He hasn’t met his other papa and nana yet. My brothers haven’t been able to see their ill father. We missed the funeral of a close relative during lockdown.”
ICU Dr Dominic Pimenta wrote: “Haven’t seen my parents since January. Frankly, Cummings spits in the face of all our efforts, the whole #NHS. If he doesn’t resign, I will.”
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