UK Government urged to repatriate a West Sussex man and friends stuck in an indefinite Italian isolation.
A young man from West Sussex who travelled to Florence to teach English is urging the government to repatriate him and two friends after failing a sixth coronavirus swab test in six successive weeks.
That is despite being forced to self-isolate throughout this time.
Will Castle from Ardingly claims that Italian doctors have said he is no longer infectious.
Dead Covid-19 cells in his body means the ‘Florence Three’ are continually testing positive for the virus.
Will said:
“It got a point last week where we tested positive for a fifth time last week where we need people higher up. We need Dominic Raab to step in because we haven’t been infectious for three weeks now according to the doctor here. They (the tests) are so effective and accurate that they even pick up the non-active virus that means even though you are not infected anymore it is still going to pick up the virus.
Italy is renowned for providing some of the most loved foods around the world including pasta and pizza. However, it would appear that isn’t what is being served while Will and his friends are in isolation at the Italian facility.
“There is no nutrients in this food. You can feel it within your body, you can feel the difference and that it isn’t doing anything to help you. They give us barley any protein so how on earth are we supposed to keep a balanced diet - We get maybe a slice of turkey or a couple of meatballs.”
They are stuck in a hotel room with very limited opportunities for other human interaction, but the trio are trying to keep morale up to improve their mental health.
“We do ring each other at meal times, we have done that this entire and for me it has been my saving grace and kept me sane.
“Mental health comes in cycles for different people, so on days when I am feeling a bit down they can boost me and vice versa.”
The Florence Three also have raised questions about some of their treatment while in lockdown.
“I have had my airpods go missing from a room I cant leave, and had an investigation refused. I can’t report it to the police because in Italy you have to report this at a police station.
“Rhys had his shoulder in pain for a week and kept reporting it to them, but they refused and didn’t look at it properly. When they finally looked at it, they found it was dislocated and then he was able to get that put in but still had to wait two days for them to get him any pain medication.
“Quin had an ear infection and they took days to get anti-biotics, but the medication arrived it was ineffective and haven’t replaced the medicine. So people say we are safe and healthy, but are we?”