A GREENFIELD girl has made a video message to the nation to ‘stop being silly’ and start listening to the Prime Minister’s advice to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Amellie Warren-Adams, age seven, filmed a short video appeal to share with friends and family after not being able to understand why she was being told by her parents to stay indoors but could see others going about life as normal.

In her video, posted hours before the Prime Minister announced tougher measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the UK, she says that people who are not listening to Boris Johnson are ‘silly’ and shares her worries about her parents getting the virus whilst working as front line NHS workers.

The Leader:

Amellie, seven, with her mum Ashleigh, dad Alex and sister Aliyah

Speaking to the Leader her mum Ashleigh, who works as a nurse at Denbigh Infirmary, said: “Amellie just could not understand why we were keeping her inside why everyone was allowed to go out.

“From there she made the video saying that people were silly for ignoring the advice and they should all listen to what they are being told.”

Ashleigh said that she talked to her daughter about the virus because she wanted her to know what was going on around her and why it was so important to follow the advice.

She said that she is very open with her daughter about coronavirus as we cannot shield children from the key messages as everybody is potentially at risk of getting this virus and described working on the NHS frontline as ‘frightening’.

She said: “I’m seeing people now that are not understanding why they need to socially isolate and distance themselves from other people to protect the wider community.

“In the video, she mentions her worry about myself and her dad – who are both NHS workers – catching the virus but she understands why we have to and knows that mummy and daddy go to work to make people better but it is just heart-breaking to know she is scared for us. As it must still be very confusing for a child to understand the ins and outs of it all.”

The video was shared dozens of times on Ashleigh’s own personal Facebook page and was also picked up by her head teacher at Ysgol Maesglas and shared on the school Twitter account after reports of people in gatherings around areas that have since been closed to prevent the spread of the virus.

The mum-of-two said: “It has received such a positive response from people we know wondering how others can go about their days as normal and ignore the government’s advice but a seven-year-old can fully understand why we need to make sacrifices like this.

“She was so happy with just a few comments that people were starting to listen and take the message seriously. Some were even saying if you won’t listen to Boris then please listen to this little girl.”

Ashleigh said that Amellie has also celebrated her birthday on March 26 and did not like the fact she could not see her grandparents or her schoolfriends like she would usually because of the virus, but understands the sacrifices the UK must make in the coming months.

Ashleigh said: “She’s had presents dropped off at the doorstep and, even though we are not isolated socially it is about keeping that distance and safety a priority. Amellie told me this is her worst birthday ever because she cannot share it with friends and family and we have explained she is not the only person missing out on birthday’s across the country which she gets and knows we will all celebrate once the virus has gone away and life returns to normal.”

She added that Amellie is keeping a social isolation diary to document what she is doing day-to-day throughout the pandemic - like documenting her feelings and what activites she got up to with her family -as one day she will be able to look back on it with her own family.