A DEVASTATED widow who lost her husband to Covid has warned the virus “should still be taken seriously” despite lockdown lifting, as case numbers rise across south Essex.

Lindsay Rudd, 58, said the virus is the worst thing her family has been through, having lost her husband Del on New Year’s Eve aged 66.

She has warned the virus “has not gone away”, as new figures show a rise in cases in Southend, Basildon, Castle Point and Rochford.

The Beresford Road resident is still suffering the effects of long Covid herself after catching the virus last year. 

She said: “I don’t want it [lockdown] to end yet. My husband died of it on New Year’s Eve, so I am not in any hurry to get out of lockdown, I want people to be safe.

“My whole family has had it and I’m still suffering. I can remember last year I had not heard of a single person that had it.

“But it came to November and I was hearing more and more, I just knew that it’s going to happen to me.

“I am amazed about how many people are acting like it’s all over, people in shops with no mask and on public transport.

“People crossing pavements and not moving out of the way.

“It seems to me a lot of people are carrying on, but it’s not gone away.”

Mr Rudd previously suffered from necrotising fasciitis, a disease that was eating his body, before suffering a number of strokes and going on dialysis for five years, before he died after contracting Covid last year.

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Mrs Rudd described her husband as a “champion” for Southend United and Southend Hospital.

Southend’s figures rose by 15 per cent to 91 cases in total in the seven days up to June 22, the latest data available from Public Health England.

Basildon’s virus rates stand at 67 cases in the same period, a rise of 38 cases – or 131 per cent – from the week previously.

There were also stark rises in Rochford and Castle Point, with Rochford recording 41 new cases, up 78 per cent or 18 cases in a week, and Castle Point recording a rise of 66 per cent – 12 cases – to 30 cases in total.

Terri Sargent, chairman of Basildon Council’s communities and wellbeing committee, said young people needed to push for vaccines as soon as possible.

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Terri Sargent

She said: “The spread may be caused by young people because it’s caused by them not knowing they necessarily have got it.

“The vaccination programme in Basildon has been excellent and has gone extremely well, but now it’s getting the younger people vaccinated because they can be the carriers.”

Krishna Ramkhelawon, director of public health for Southend, said: “We have seen a rise in case rates, most notably in the 19 to 22 age group. I would like to emphasise the importance of routine testing twice weekly, isolating following a positive test result and the importance of following the hands, face, space, fresh air advice from Government.

“I would also urge everyone to take up the offer of a Covid jab, particularly in that younger age group.

“It is also vital that those self-isolating follow the strict requirements and do not socialise outside their homes. Not following self-isolation guidance risks rapid spread of the virus, especially with the new Delta variant and new mutations which are more transmissible.

“Those strictly following self-isolation guidance can allow us to better protect the health of our loved ones, fellow students, staff and the community overall.”