Federal Labor MP Ged Kearney has revealed her father-in-law was the 30th person in Australia to die from coronavirus.

Ged KearneyCredit:Alex Ellinghausen

Ms Kearney took to social media to post a tribute to her late father-in-law, Mike, who died in Canberra Hospital on Saturday.

The 82-year-old was the ACT's second coronavirus death.

The Labor MP urged Australians not to let the number of COVID-19 deaths be "just nameless statistics".

"Today I read in the news that Australia has recorded its 30th death from Corona Virus [sic]," she wrote.

"'Oh' you might say, '30 is ok compared to other countries' or you might say '30 is getting up there' or you might just look at it see a number and not think much at all, because you are just going about your daily isolation activities.

"But please, don't let these figures just become a nameless statistic to you.

"You see that 30th person was Mike, my father in law. My partner Leigh's much loved and loving father."

She said her father-in-law had done his best to isolate but became sick suddenly, was admitted to hospital and died seven days later.

"In fact I believe he only went outside a couple of times in the whole month to shop," she said on Facebook.

"We actually teased him because he had bought 5kgs of rice and 10 tins of chic peas [sic] and 10 cans of tomatoes – for just him and his lovely wife Wendy. Panic buying we said! But of course it was the right thing to do."



She went on to say that death in the time of COVID-19 is hard as Mike's Canberra family, including his wife, are in isolation and must grieve on their own.

Ms Kearney also thanked Australians for doing the right thing by staying at home during the pandemic but urged people to not become immune to the numbers.

"Every death is sad and felt deeply by someone. I know most people are finding kindness and helping out at every turn, and I am feeling the caring nature of our community first hand," she said.

"I know you know what you must do to curb the deaths, I don't need to tell you.

"Please – Just do it, and keep doing it."

AAP

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