Great-gran, 83, who 'doesn't give a sod' about Tier 3 reveals she survived Covid and urges public 'don't be afraid'

A GREAT-GRAN who “doesn’t give a sod” about Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions has today revealed she survived Covid and urged the public “to not be afraid” of the killer bug.

Maureen Eames, 83, from Barnsley, South Yorks, went viral for her no-nonsense reply to the tougher rules – describing them as being “ridiculous”.

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She said she would not be “fastened in a house” after it was announced South Yorkshire will be placed into the “very high” risk category this weekend.

She added that she has been overwhelmed by supporters who praised her straight-talking response.

Maureen, a former doctor’s housekeeper, said both she and her electrical engineer husband Michael, 81, had both contracted and defeated coronavirus.

BEAT COVID

She told MailOnline: “Life has to go on. The biggest thing is that all the people are afraid at the moment.

“This government has scared people from the start to get them into lockdown.

“In my lifetime I am 83 – I never thought I would feel like I was in Italy when Germany invaded. This is a free country for God's sake – or I thought it was.

“I have had the virus, I had it at the end of May. I didn’t realise until I spoke to the doctor. I had a dry cough and pains in my lungs and was very, very tired.

“But I am fit and well and I got through it. After ten days I was back to normal. I didn’t consider it incredible, I am a fit person. My husband has had it too and he has recovered.”

TAKE CARE

Maureen, a great-gran-of-two, added: “'My solution is to take care, let the hospital and nurses look after the people.

“Let people wear the masks, get out in the fresh air and go to the businesses and the ships and go to the businesses. Take care – but don't be afraid.”

Outspoken Maureen, who has been a Notton parish councillor for 50 years, said Boris Johnson should ignore scientists and Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

She became a local celebrity after her comments to the BBC last night.

Maureen told a reporter: “I think it’s all ridiculous. We should never have been in lockdown.

"All the people who were vulnerable should have been helped and kept safe. All the rest of us, I’m 83, I don’t give a sod.

"I look at it this way, I’ve not got all that many years left of me and I’m not going to be fastened in a house when the government has got it all wrong."

Life has to go on. The biggest thing is that all the people are afraid at the moment."

She added: "We need, how can we get the country on its feet? Where’s all the money?

"By the end of this year, there’s going to be millions of people unemployed and you know who’s going to pay for that? All the young ones. Not me because I’m going to be dead."

A Tier 3 lockdown means that pubs and cars which can't serve food will have to shut its doors along with soft play areas, betting shops and casinos.

I think it’s all ridiculous. We should never have been in lockdown."

Gyms and leisure centres can stay open – as it was confirmed that they will reopen in Liverpool after being ordered to shut.

But group classes will have to stop.

No wedding receptions will be allowed, either.

As in Tier 2, people will be unable to mix inside with other households – unless they are part of a support bubble.

People will be advised not to travel in or out of the region unless it's essential – and to try and stay off public transport if they can.

£11million extra cash will be given to the area to help local track and trace, and another £30million for business support for those who have to shut.

Yesterday, Boris said there was some encouraging signs that "areas which have gone into tier 3 are already making progress" in bringing cases down.

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