THE husband of an elderly woman who died of Covid-19 has described his heartache at being unable to attend her burial because of self-isolation rules.
Anne Best (72), from Derrylin, Co Fermanagh, was buried at St Ninnidh's cemetery on Saturday – the first person to die in the county from the coronavirus pandemic.
There was no funeral. Only a handful of mourners watched from a distance as her coffin, adorned with a single white rose, was lowered into the ground by gravediggers wearing gloves.
Parish priest Fr Gerard Alwill read prayers and an undertaker stood nearby.
Mrs Best's husband of 51 years Tom did not attend the burial as he has been told to self-isolate at home for 14 days.
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"It's just breaking my heart that I couldn't be there when she died or at the funeral," he told the Impartial Reporter newspaper.
"I am not going to break all the rules and walk up there and see her. I'm not going to do that because that would not be right. It would be selfish on all the people of Derrylin."
Mr Best (77) said his wife began to feel unwell last Monday and her health quickly deteriorated.
Within two days she died in an isolation ward at South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen.
"The last time I seen her was when she was being put into the ambulance and looking down and that's it," he said.
"It's heartbreaking. I wouldn't wish it on anyone, that is a fact."
The retired civil servant added: "I loved her."
Public Health Agency guidance on Covid-19 says that anyone with symptoms should stay at home for seven days, and anyone who lives with someone who has symptoms should stay at home for 14 days.
