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Covid

Darlington MP travelled 225 miles on train with CoVid symptoms

19 replies

SapatSea · 28/05/2020 12:18

As if DC wasn't bad enough we now have this news:
www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18478480.darlington-mp-explains-225-mile-journey-home-coronavirus-symptoms/

His excuses include "having no accomodation in London" hmm...thought MP's got a very generous allowance to cover that. Then he says he was staying in a friend's spare room and didn't want to risk infecting them, hmm... so he thought traveling 225 miles on a train and potentially infecting numerous passengers would be a better idea and his final trump card," he only had a few changes of clothes in London" hmm... ever heard of clothes shops and online next day delivery??

It makes me so mad, he put all those other passengers, taxi drivers etc lives at risk. If he had to get back to Darlington could his partner or relative not collected him? Did he wear a mask etc on the train? he claims he self isolated on the train, how? It just beggars belief.

OP posts:

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PerkingFaintly · 28/05/2020 12:28

According to the article, he called the MPs' helpline for CV advice and was told he could use the train but to self-isolate.

If he gave the helpline the full picture (inc that his "don't have accommodation in London" meant "was staying in a friend's spare room"), then that's... not good.

I think people weren't taking it seriously yet when this happened. He got the cough on 18 March. Bars were only closed on 16 March and lockdown wasn't announced until 23 March. So he wasn't breaching rules, but it would still have been much better if he hadn't travelled with symptoms.

PerkingFaintly · 28/05/2020 12:31

(BTW, for the many people on these boards who have to check Which Party before coming out with an opinion, I have no idea which party this MP is. I'm going on his actions – and those of the MPs' helpline – as reported.)

Divoc2020 · 28/05/2020 12:33

The media is just having a field day digging up these stories now.

This was March 18, before the lockdown. Loads of people had mild symptoms. Nobody knew what a 'continuous cough' was.

Loads of people travelling before guidance became clearer. DS had been to A&E with chest pains/breathlessness that week, but was told he was OK to get a train home from uni.

kistanbul · 28/05/2020 12:37

It’s not great, but all non-London MPs had to travel home from Westminster. The same was true for everyone working away from home when the lockdown hit. They don’t get a generous allowance anymore. Lots stay with friends it share flats.

halcyondays · 28/05/2020 12:38

If he was staying in the friend’s flat when he developed symptoms then he should have isolated himself in his room there. He should have followed the guidelines on how to try to stop it spreading To others within the house. And the friend might have already been exposed to the virus so they should have also been self isolating at home.

halcyondays · 28/05/2020 12:40

I’m pretty sure the advice on staying where you are and not going out if you have symptoms came out before lockdown, don’t know the exact date though.

tabulahrasa · 28/05/2020 12:46

@halcyondays

I’m pretty sure the advice on staying where you are and not going out if you have symptoms came out before lockdown, don’t know the exact date though.

It was in place by the first week of March, I’m sure...

halcyondays · 28/05/2020 12:57

BBC news article from 12 March, anyone with fever or new continuous cough to self isolate for seven days and should not use public transport.

WoollyMollyMonkey · 28/05/2020 13:06

They’re still saying “if you have symptoms don’t travel“ now - I heard a radio advert thing off the government yesterday morning.

quiteathome · 28/05/2020 13:17

I was ill the week before lockdown, and the whole family self isolated. So the message was there. So he should not have travelled. And stayed in the spare room until symptoms had gone. I wonder how much of the spread of Covid can be linked to MPs and the Cummings' of the world.

BlackeyedSusan · 28/05/2020 13:17

The advice was shit. Yes stay in the flat.

BlackeyedSusan · 28/05/2020 13:29

Monday 16 th eve, household to isolate for 14 days

Thurs 12th stay at home 7 days with temperature.

Remember because that is when D's started staying home, and then we had to join him on the Monday evening. Not been shopping since.

SapatSea · 28/05/2020 13:47

Who knew MP's had their own special Corona virus helpline?

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Wingedharpy · 28/05/2020 14:57

It was Dom's idea @SapatSea, so the elite didn't have to follow the same instructions as the plebs.

tabulahrasa · 28/05/2020 15:06

@SapatSea

Who knew MP's had their own special Corona virus helpline?

Well can’t say I knew, but a lot workplaces had them at that point

quiteathome · 28/05/2020 15:07

I did not know they had their own helpline.

quiteathome · 28/05/2020 15:08

Is that actually true?

Wingedharpy · 28/05/2020 15:49

Read 5th paragraph in linked article @quiteathome.

quiteathome · 28/05/2020 18:18

Thank you. I read the article. I don't think that part actually registered though. Probably got distracted by the kids having a punch up

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