COVID test nightmare continues for Dorset dad
In a bizarre twist, Leon Gentle has tested positive again two months after he last saw his family
A Dorset Dad says he's feeling 'numb' after a months-long ordeal of testing positive for COVID-19.
Leon Gentle flew out to his fathers funeral in South Africa in June and hasn't seen his wife, Jill, or their children since.
He tested positive for coronavirus just before returning from the red-list country, meaning he would have to wait till he tested negative to return.
Doctors told him that could be months due to the sensitivity of PCR tests. Leon managed to return after testing negative on a Lateral Flow test, and then he tested negative again on his second day in a quarantine hotel, giving him hope he would be able to see his children soon.
On day 9, just a day before he would be allowed to leave, Leon received a text message:
"It took me a while to process that, how could it be positive again?"
Leon says he's confused how he could have tested positive having only just tested negative on a week ago.
"I emailed the test and trace people saying 'how could this be possible? Look at my test results, back in June: positive, positive, positive, negative, negative and then positive again.
"It doesn't make any sense."
PCR tests aren't 100% accurate and false negatives are possible, meaning Leon's day 2 test could just be down to that. Either way, Leon will have to self-isolate for one final 10 day stint before he can go back to his family.
"After everything that's happened, I'm sort of numb now at the moment. I don't have the energy to fight it or anything. Let's just let it be.
"My next step is just every day, set goals for that day when I can see my children so I don't just sit here and wither away."