A 21-year-old woman is believed to have become the youngest person with no underlying health conditions in the UK to have died after contracting coronavirus.
Chloe Middleton’s family shared the news on Facebook in the hopes it will be a wake up call to all who are not taking social distancing measures seriously enough. Officials are yet to confirm the death and the circumstances surrounding it.
The heartbroken family, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, last night urged the public to ‘do your bit’ and ‘stay home’ in a bid to stop the pandemic spreading further.
Mother, Diane Middleton, wrote on Facebook: ‘To all the people out there who think it’s just a virus please think again. Speaking from a personal experience this so-called virus has taken the life of my 21-year-old daughter.’
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Chloe’s aunt Emily Mistry also issued a plea on Facebook to ‘protect yourselves and protect others’.
She wrote: ‘My beautiful, kind hearted 21 year old niece Chloe has passed away from Covid-19. SHE HAD NO UNDERLYING HEALTH ISSUES.
‘My loved ones are going through the most unimaginable pain, we are shattered beyond belief.
‘The reality of this virus is only just unfolding before our very eyes. Please, please adhere to government guidelines. DO YOUR BIT… The virus isn’t spreading, PEOPLE are spreading the virus.
‘Life as we know it has changed dramatically but unless we all act now to protect ourselves and others, the longer this turmoil and anguish will go on. Rest in peace Chloe. Until we meet again…’
Chloe’s sister, Amy Louise Middleton, posted pictures of the pair together and wrote: ‘My kids couldn’t have had a more loving crazy nutcase for a auntie and we wouldn’t have had it any other way!! She adored them and they certainly adored her back.’
She said her sister ‘went above and beyond for me and was my best friend’, before adding: ‘Please don’t take this virus lightly because you never know what’s around the corner. Love you always clo- jo’.
The youngest person in the UK to have died after contracting coronavirus was an 18-year-old, in Coventry, West Midlands. However, doctors said he had ‘significant underlying health issues’ and that the virus was not linked to the cause of his death.
As of 9am Tuesday, the UK’s coronavirus death toll stood at 422. A total of 90,436 had been tested and 8,077 of those were positive.
However, those figures are expected to rise today, after six more people died from coronavirus in Scotland, bringing the country’s death toll to 22, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Wednesday. The number of confirmed cases is still being verified.
Five more people who tested positive for coronavirus in Wales have also died, taking the total death toll in the country to 22. There have been 150 new positive cases of coronavirus recorded, Public Health Wales said on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson locked down the country earlier this week, after scores of people were seen flocking to parks, markets and beaches at the weekend. He urged the public to ‘stay at home’ and only leave for essential trips, such as to buy food or medicine, to go to work, or to exercise outdoors once a day.
The PM closed all non-essential shops, places of worship and playgrounds. He warned the NHS won’t be able to cope if ‘too many people become seriously unwell’ and banned gatherings of more than two people.
However, police have still been having to remind people not to use the good weather as an excuse to break the rules and gather with friends outdoors. New powers given to police mean they can fine rule breakers or even arrest them in extreme cases.
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