'I couldn't sleep, I just wanted to hold my grandchildren' - Washington grandmother reveals lockdown pain as she urges people to follow covid rules

Brenda Naisby, 79, was put forward by housing association Gentoo to take part in the campaign, Beat Covid NE, which urges communities across the region to stick with the coronavirus rules and guidance over the festive season.

It sees grandmother-of-three Brenda thank Sunderland residents for their efforts to help keep Covid-19 cases down and for supporting each other during the pandemic.

The campaign, which has been backed by seven North East councils, including Sunderland City Council, comes as the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine begins to roll out across the country.

Brenda, who is in a bubble with daughter Alison Naisby, 58, said: “It is nice to be involved in the campaign and thank the people in the North East who have helped to get coronavirus cases down.

“I think as a region we’ve done so well at sticking to the rules, but we’ve got to keep going.

“There is a chink of light that we can see now with the vaccine, it is fabulous news.”

Brenda also thanked people for taking part in the vaccine trials and the scientists for their work in developing it.

She said she now feels hopeful for the future after finding things tough during lockdown.

Brenda said: “I have found the lockdowns very hard, particularly as I got to the end of the 12 weeks, the isolation was really getting to me.

“I wanted to hug my daughter and hold my grandchildren, it was heartbreaking.

"During the three month lockdown I couldn’t watch the news because nothing was good.

"When I went to bed I couldn’t sleep as they seemed no way out of it. So when the news broke about the vaccine I was absolutely delighted.

“I would rather take my chances with a vaccine than go without it.”

Having not seen friends since the start of the pandemic Brenda is looking forward to spring when she hopes things will be better.

"I’m 80 in February and I am hoping to celebrate with my friends and family and a glass of champagne,” Brenda added.

The campaign follows research commissioned by the seven North East councils that revealed over half of residents say they want to stick with social distancing guidelines but find it hard; while one in three people find it hard to stick to household mixing rules.

Despite the vaccine approval and the national lockdown lifting last Wednesday people are being urged not to throw away all the good work by being complacent.

Chair of the Association of Directors of Public Health North East and director of public health for County Durham, Amanda Healy said: "The new campaign for our region comes at a critical time and reminds us all to keep going.

"As Christmas approaches, it is time for celebration, but we’ve got to continue to exercise caution so that we don’t undermine all the hard work and sacrifice made to lower the R rate.”

The campaign has been supported by Northumbria and County Durham Local Resilience Forums (LRF) which includes councils, third sector, NHS, blue light services and public transport bodies.

For more information visit: www.BeatCovidNE.co.uk

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