Man stranded in Italy for months returns to Wales- straight into another lockdown!

By Tony Winterburn • Published: 20 Oct 2020 • 9:32

Welshman Rhys James was teaching English in Italy when he had to go into quarantine and was eventually allowed back to Wales- straight back into lockdown again!

Rhys James, 23, from Pembroke Dock, was stuck in Italy for eight weeks as he kept testing positive for coronavirus. James and his two friends were teaching English in Florence before they tested positive for coronavirus on August 17. After the positive tests, they were taken from the hospital to a coronavirus quarantine centre where they were then separated.

Quinn, Will and Rhys returned to the UK after eight weeks in complete coronavirus isolation in Italy. Picture: Rhys James/ Facebook

Italian law at the time meant that they each would need to provide two consecutive negative coronavirus test results in order to be able to leave.

As the weeks passed, however, the trio – which included Quinn Paczesny, 20, and 22-year-old Will Castle, 22 – kept testing positive for the virus. The group believe this was down to an “inactive” version of the virus showing up.

Finally on Monday, October 12, Will Castle tested negative and was allowed to return to the UK. However, Quinn and Rhys returned a positive test and were told they would have to stay, despite having no symptoms since August. Things quickly changed when the Italian government changed the law so that after 21 days of isolation and one negative test, people stuck there could leave the country.

The two boys travelled back that weekend after testing negative for coronavirus 61 days after they were put in isolation only to walk into the Welsh lockdown that starts on Friday. Rhys said he his happy just to be at home with his family and thinks the lockdown is necessary.

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