Inside the life of the family still living like its lockdown: Mother and son still wear masks, follow social distancing and wash their shopping as they follow Covid rules amid fear son with Crohn’s disease could fall seriously ill

A family has continued to live under Covid-19 lockdown restrictions despite the last draconian measures being lifted almost three years ago.

Mandy, 59, and Mason Milne, 22, continued washing the shopping they ordered at their Essex home, maintaining social distancing to protect Mason, who is severely immunocompromised.

They also wear medical masks in crowded places, avoid socializing outside their support bubbles and wash their hands vigorously alongside Mandy’s husband Gordon, 59.

After suffering “stabbing pains” in his stomach, Mason was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2017, meaning he is at much higher risk of serious illness if he contracts Covid-19.

The 22-year-old takes chemotherapy tablets daily and biological injections every two weeks as part of his treatment for the disease.

Mandy said life is a “nightmare” following her son’s diagnosis.

‘Life is very difficult for our entire family. Doing anything during the pandemic was a nightmare, but it still is now,” Mandy told the Mirror.

‘We clean our food deliveries, avoid supermarkets, wash our hands after touching anything outside and take regular Covid tests.

“I carry a mask in my pocket at all times, but I don’t get close to people, so I don’t feel the need to wear it.”

He continued: ‘The pandemic is over for most people and they are getting on with their lives, but for us now it is even more difficult.

“It’s worse than when the restrictions were in place.”

Mason, who is autistic, added that he has lost friends since the pandemic and rarely socializes with anyone outside of his family.

The mother-of-three added that Covid has put ‘one billion percent’ of Mason’s life on hold, as he used to go out with friends and go to university before 2020.

Mason said he goes for a walk around the block if he wants some fresh air and often crosses the street if he sees someone waking up to him.

The football fan, who has a season ticket for Ipswich, used a cloth to touch the button at a pedestrian crossing.

Attending a soccer game is very different for the young man, as he now has to arrive at the game an hour early, sit at the end of the hallway, and leave the game 20 minutes early to avoid the crowds.