Protect the elderly from coronavirus

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Recently, I came across a tweet from a Jamaican doctor who said that tears came to her eyes as she treated an elderly man who was confused as to how he contracted COVID-19 when he didn’t leave his home. Obviously, someone who lives there with him or visited his place passed it on to him, and that is very unfortunate.

COVID-19 is no respecter of age. However, the information suggests that the elderly as well as those with comorbidities are at high risk. The deaths in Jamaica from COVID-19 have increased significantly over the past few weeks, the majority of which are persons in older age groups.

The existing protocols dictate that persons who are 70 years and over should remain at home. If they adhere to this protocol, it means others outside of that age category will need to assist them in a variety of ways. This demands a high level of responsibility from the rest of us; we must be vigilant in protecting ourselves and we must also protect everyone, particularly the elderly, whenever we come in contact with them.

This so-called ‘new normal’ is taking a toll on all of us. Wearing a mask is not an easy task, we sometimes forget to keep our three feet or six feet distance from each other. We do not always want to stay home, sometimes we miss our relatives. But close your eyes for a moment and imagine your loved one in a casket and think that it is possibly because of your actions that their life was cut short. That scenario, I believe, is more painful to live with than the discomforts that have been caused by this pandemic.

They say “once a man, twice a child”. Just as we protect our children, we must also protect our parents and grandparents. If not for yourselves, do what is right for the ones you love. Stay safe.

SUZETTE CAMPBELL