Dorset man trapped in months-long COVID test nightmare arrives back in the UK
Leon Gentle's one step closer to seeing his family, there's just one more hurdle
A Dorset man who's been trapped in a vicious cycle of constant positive coronavirus tests has arrived back in the UK.
Leon Gentle is on home soil a month later than planned after finally testing negative on a lateral flow test.
Doctor's braced him for months away from his family when he tested positive before his flight back from South Africa in July.
PCR tests are known to come back positive for up to 90 days after a person contracts COVID-19. Lateral flow tests are less sensitive meaning they're less likely to show up positive if someone's no longer contagious.
But there's one more hurdle Leon faces - the quarantine hotel he's at requires PCR tests leaving him worried he could face extra hassle and extra fees.
He told Greatest Hits Radio Dorset:
"So, obviously I'm going to test positive and then instead of having to stay here 10 days the whole thing is going to be 12 days, and I'm going to have to pay for those extra two days."
Leon's already been charged £1,750 to stay in his quarantine hotel for 10 days.
There's been no progress from challenging hotel staff about it, although many of them agree with him.
"The person who's going to administer the test, I spoke to her, and I said look, I need to use an anti-gen test and she said I know, but we have to follow the rules which says PCR test.
"Every PCR test I've had on there says if you test again you're going to test positive, everyone knows that. Why am I still using PCR tests? I'm obviously going to test positive.
"All they need to do is say at the quarantine hotel if you've tested positive using a PCR test and you can show us that then on day two just use an antigen test.
"I don't see how that's illogical."
Leon says he's looking forward to getting home.
"They're constantly asking me Daddy, when are you coming home? How long are you going to stay in the quarantine hotel for? They're just really excited to see me.
"It is emotional but we try and not wallow in despair because otherwise you're in a bad situation and you're still in despair.
"We're trying to be positive really, I mean, excuse the pun."