Josie Gibson gets emotional as she talks about deaf brother's 'living hell' during Covid-19 crisis - Daily Mail

The presenter, 35, said that the deaf community has been 'forgotten' about during the global pandemic as people are unable to lip read with the use of face masks.

Josie said that she and her brother, Harry, were recently left 'drained' after they were kicked out of three restaurants for not wearing a face mask despite being exempt from doing so.

The Big Brother star said: 'We are so privileged to still be able to communicate even when we wear a face mask, but imagine going into a shop and being totally cut off from everybody in that shop?'.

'We are told to wear masks and save lives, but we have forgotten about this community where these masks are making their lives a living hell.'.

'Living hell': The presenter, 35, said that the deaf community has been 'forgotten' about during the global pandemic as people are unable to lip read with the use of face masks (Josie's brother Harry and his wife pictured) .

Talking about a recent 'draining' experience she and her brother Harry encountered, Josie said: 'We went to a restaurant the other day and we kept our distance from the guy that was sitting us down.

Draining: Josie said that she and her brother, Harry, were recently left 'drained' after they were kicked out of three restaurants for not wearing a face mask despite being exempt from doing so.

'They have no form of communication and these people - the deaf community - have been forgotten about during this pandemic.'.

Josie said that she was really introduced to the sunflower sign, which is a symbol which can be worn by the deaf community to let people know they are exempt from wearing a face covering. .

She said: 'I met this amazing train manager and she told me about the sunflower lanyard and I didn't know anything about this, and I said to Harry [her brother] "Why haven't you got a sunflower lanyard?" and he said that he didn't know about it.

So when you're out and about you wear the sunflower lanyard or wristband and people will recognise it, and will stop asking you why you're not wearing a mask.'?

Important: Josie said that she was really introduced to the sunflower sign, which is a symbol which can be worn by the deaf community to let people know they are exempt from wearing a face covering?

The presenter translated their interview and said: 'Masks are impacting our life because we can't communicate with other people.

'We rely on signing and lip reading, and so it's difficult for us, we are fed up having to explain ourselves why we aren't wearing masks and having to explain that we are deaf, and having to explain we are lip reading…'

Talking after her brother's interview, an emotional Josie said she was 'so proud' of her brother and his wife for sharing their experiences

She said: 'I'm so proud of my brother and his wife for that because they were so nervous doing that

Concluding her interview, Josie said: 'Some have refused to lower their masks and this is why people need to recognise the sunflower lanyards…