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Original poster

Gove alerted as close contact after Portugal trip but not isolating

52 replies

lonelyplanet · 04/06/2021 11:42

The government really couldn't be doing things any worse. Gove went off to watch footie in Portugal has been identified as a close contacts but instead of isolating is doing daily lateral flow tests. Meanwhile Portugal is worrying enough to put on the amber list.

BBC News - Covid: Michael Gove alerted by NHS Test and Trace after Champions League trip
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57355599

OP posts:
DuncinToffee · 04/06/2021 12:42

On second reading, it does read they way you are explaining it ChristmasCovid

Lucky for him then that his contact contracted one of the lesser variants

Wonder if all the contacts are being offered to take part in this scheme.

eddiemairswife · 04/06/2021 12:46

It comes to something when I look back to the Gove days as Ed Sec with a sense of nostalgia.

ChloeDecker · 04/06/2021 12:49

@eddiemairswife

It comes to something when I look back to the Gove days as Ed Sec with a sense of nostalgia.
How very dare you!??? ShockShock

GrinGrinGrin

HunkyPunk · 04/06/2021 13:03

Bet this happens more and more, as the rule makers get fed up with being hemmed in like the rest of us, and make a break for it, complete with handy excuses!

ChristmasCovid · 04/06/2021 13:05

@DuncinToffee

On second reading, it does read they way you are explaining it ChristmasCovid

Lucky for him then that his contact contracted one of the lesser variants

Wonder if all the contacts are being offered to take part in this scheme.

I think they are as long as they meet the criteria. I was offered but I work from home anyway so choose just to do the single pcr that is also being offered as part of the study.
Regulus · 04/06/2021 13:05

@ChristmasCovid

From the gov.uk website

Who can take part
People who are traced as contacts can take part if they:

do not have COVID-19 symptoms
live in England
are not in full-time education
are aged 18 and over
are not under the quarantine rules for arriving in England
People will not be able to take part if they have been informed that they have been in contact with someone who has, or is suspected to have, tested positive with a variant of concern (VOC) or variant under investigation (VU

Interesting, no mention that several schools are also doing this.
Yugi · 04/06/2021 13:08

We have had this scheme at work for ages. It should be available for everyone

LedByFools · 04/06/2021 13:09

Was wondering Portugal was on the green list despite having rising cases recently.

ChristmasCovid · 04/06/2021 13:11

@Yugi

We have had this scheme at work for ages. It should be available for everyone
I ‘think’ it now is as long as they meet the criteria.
BelleBlueBell · 04/06/2021 13:12

@Decorhate

They are not offering this test scheme to everyone - my Dd has had Covid, is fully vaccinated and is currently self isolating as she was a close contact with a positive case (who was also fully vaccinated btw). She was hoping her household would get chosen for the LFT trial but sadly not so she has had to miss her UK end of uni holiday.
I haven't heard of this but presumably by definition a test scheme isn't offered to everyone or how can they test it against the alternatives.
MaggieFS · 04/06/2021 13:13

Portugal is a red herring here because he returned under green status.

It just looks terrible and the timing couldn't be more unfortunate as Portugal is moved to Amber! I

PicsInRed · 04/06/2021 13:16

@lonelyplanet

Let's hope he doesn't bring a new variant in and finish off our leaders.
The Gamma variant. For its progenitor, Gove.
noblegiraffe · 04/06/2021 13:27

Is Twat a letter in the Greek alphabet?

shewalkslikerihanna · 04/06/2021 13:27

If this photo doesn’t make you want to spit teeth, I don’t know what will
Them and us again

Gove alerted as close contact after Portugal trip but not isolating
Lochroy · 04/06/2021 14:34

FFS. And here's me agonising over whether to continue with my holiday to Ibiza or not. Happy to quarantine on the return, and it's not illegal, I'm just not sure if it's the "right thing" to do.

Would love to see some FOI responses as to whether the football played a part in Portugal being green.

DonkeysNotDisney · 04/06/2021 15:33

@Lochroy

FFS. And here's me agonising over whether to continue with my holiday to Ibiza or not. Happy to quarantine on the return, and it's not illegal, I'm just not sure if it's the "right thing" to do.

Would love to see some FOI responses as to whether the football played a part in Portugal being green.

It didn't really. It was meant to be played in Turkey but they were in lockdown and Red for the UK, so they moved it to Portugal as the rates were low and it was green for UK...but the two teams were from the UK.

Who thought it made sense to move the final from Turkey to Portugal when it should have just moved to Wembley (or another big UK club)

I know the Champions League has a Europe wide fan base but during a pandemic this seems very strange.

RocioMartinez · 04/06/2021 17:02

The most disturbing thing to me is how many cases have been identified in fans returning from Portugal.

I fear it may be Liverpool all over again Angry

And anyone else noticed how Portugal's case rate started to rise exponentially after the UK deemed it a safe place to travel to Hmm

UserEleventyNine · 04/06/2021 19:56

Who thought it made sense to move the final from Turkey to Portugal when it should have just moved to Wembley (or another big UK club)

UEFA, I believe. The FA offered to host it, but was turned down. I forget the reasons.

ChristmasCovid · 04/06/2021 20:14

@UserEleventyNine

Who thought it made sense to move the final from Turkey to Portugal when it should have just moved to Wembley (or another big UK club)

UEFA, I believe. The FA offered to host it, but was turned down. I forget the reasons.

It’s was because the UEFA officials did not want to comply with the 10 day quarantine rules if they came here! and they were told they were not exempt from the rules.
myrtleWilson · 04/06/2021 20:20

Given that Delta is now the dominant strain in many parts of the UK presumably this testing is less likely to be offered in the case of UK-UK transmission as they'd have to assume likely positive due to VOC?

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 04/06/2021 21:43

Excellent, if MPs are leaving the country for fun reasons, then everyone else can do without feeling guilty.

UserEleventyNine · 04/06/2021 21:57

ChristmasCovid Thank you. I had a vague idea it was something to do with the number of officials and hangers-on they wanted to bring, but couldn't recall the details.

ChristmasCovid · 04/06/2021 22:41

@UserEleventyNine

ChristmasCovid Thank you. I had a vague idea it was something to do with the number of officials and hangers-on they wanted to bring, but couldn't recall the details.
Honestly no need to thank me. I only know because my husband was ranting about how ridiculous it was to let hundreds (thousands?) of UK fans travel through airports and in a steel box to watch a football match - when it could have been played over here. Absolutely crazy decision, and most of the fans now have to isolate.
LizzieMacQueen · 04/06/2021 22:52

Is no one surprised that someone was actually close enough to Gove to warrant him being a close contact? What is it, within 2m for 15 minutes?

LemonCake79 · 05/06/2021 06:51

Tipped me over the edge to read this. I know it's a proper trial etc but it stuck in my throat when my DC have had to isolate for the whole of half term. We'd all had TWO negative PCR tests which the council invited us to take but it still doesn't lift the isolation.