Tara Murray
Judy Ingram isn’t in any hurry to leave her house and join the new COVID-19 world.
The Delahey woman, who has a number of medical conditions and a low immune system, has been housebound since March last year when the pandemic began.
She’s left the house just twice for medical reasons since March 13, and with the risk to her health too great that isn’t likely to change any time soon.
“I don’t see the point of rushing out to have a meal at the pub,” she said.
“It makes no sense after 11 months to go out and risk it. Most people have been good.
“I might be over cautious, but I just figure I’ve stuck it out this long, I’ll stick it out for a few more months, until I can get the vaccine.”
While Mrs Ingram has opted not to leave her house, she does allow her family and friends to visit – one at a time.
Her husband Ian, who was in the same situation, has been allowed by doctors to leave the house.
“Ian can go and put the TattsLotto on and go to the post office and butchers. We’re still getting the groceries delivered, but he can go and get some milk if we’re out,“ Mrs Ingram said.
“He’s reasonably restricted in what he can do, cause he doesn’t want to bring it home to me.”
While she’s been housebound, Mrs Ingram hasn’t been short of things to do.
Like most people, she’s read a number of books and done a few jigsaw puzzles. Her community work has also kept her busy.
“I’ve been doing the community register for 11 years,” she said.
“On a Monday, I’ll call people on the register who are over 65 and say hello. I’ve been able to do that out of my house.
“I’ve also discovered Zoom. I’ve gone kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
“I had been hoping to do community meetings in person, but it looks like I’ll be doing Zoom meetings for quite a while.”
She said she’d love to get back out in person and go to community events and start planting trees again, but knows that can wait.
Mrs Ingram said many people she had spoken to, including some who didn’t have the same health issues, were concerned about the pandemic and hadn’t gone back to their normal habits.
She said if she’s not illegible to get the vaccine until late this year, she might have to change her views, but for now she’s comfortable with staying at home.
“Why take the risk?” she said.
“I had a friend who got it in August and is still in hospital after the side effects.
“Ian’s cousins are in hard lockdown in England and have been since April. There’s no end in sight.”
