Coronavirus: Carer spat at and told 'you're a virus spreader' outside Lidl supermarket in Waterlooville

A CARE worker queuing at a supermarket after a gruelling week at work was spat at by a yob who shouted: ‘You’re a virus spreader.’
By Ben Fishwick
Published 24th Mar 2020, 12:14 BST
Updated 28th Mar 2020, 10:36 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Care manager Amy Hall, 27, is carrying out vital work looking after elderly and vulnerable people at their homes.

Together with around 40 of her colleagues she is travelling to Denmead, Hambledon, Waterlooville, West Meon and Droxford - giving personal care, medication, end-of-life care and doing household tasks for around 40 clients.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The sector is preparing for around more patients to be discharged from Queen Alexandra Hospital as medics prepare more space for Covid-19 patients.

Care manager Amy Hall and client assessor Danielle Hellon from Verina Daly Care in their personal protective equipment used for visiting clients during the coronavirus outbreak. Picture: VDCCare manager Amy Hall and client assessor Danielle Hellon from Verina Daly Care in their personal protective equipment used for visiting clients during the coronavirus outbreak. Picture: VDC
Care manager Amy Hall and client assessor Danielle Hellon from Verina Daly Care in their personal protective equipment used for visiting clients during the coronavirus outbreak. Picture: VDC

Amy, who works for Verina Daly Care, said: ‘It was an adult who said “you’re a virus spreader” and I kind of said “you will spread the virus”.

‘Quite a few people stood up for me outside. Everyone let me get to the front of the queue.

‘I can’t believe it, it was quite surreal. I can’t believe that some people have got that view about us.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘I was on my way to buy my mum a bunch of flowers I could leave on her doorstep for her (on Mother’s Day). It was shocking.’

The man who spat at her at around 11am on Saturday outside Lidl in Waterlooville missed but the incident has shocked colleagues at the Wallops Wood firm.

Read More
Coronavirus in Portsmouth: latest updates as city cases rise to 50, Hampshire po...

‘We’re obviously trying to help our elderly to get through this difficult time and don’t appreciate being spat at,’ Amy said.

‘It’s our elderly people who are very anxious. We’re trying to keep them clean and at the same time ourselves - and carry on providing high-quality care.’

She added: ‘I shrugged it off and carried on with my day.’

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Care firm owner Vernia Daly said her staff are digging into their own pockets and cupboards to help clients.

She praised her staff who are going the extra mile.

‘One of my staff was off last Friday and she spent the whole day trying to find some PPE,’ she said.

Pressure on the team is ramping up as hospitals prepare to discharge more people to make beds free for patients with Covid-19.

Verina said: ‘We’re putting in the hours. It's the anxiety, the carers are like every other human being.’