Anger as Doncaster shop couple reported over fake positive Covid tests

A Doncaster business couple have spoken of their anger – after being reported for what they have described as ‘malicious and false’ positive Covid tests.
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Antony and Ann Frith, who run Shoe Healer in Scot Lane, receivied official NHS alerts and were contacted by health officials telling them to self-isolate after being told they had come into contact with someone who had tested positive for coronavirus.

But the pair believe their numbers were passed on to the service maliciously, in a bid to prevent the shoe repair shop re-opening after lockdown.

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Said Antony: “We think the timing was very suspicious. Both of us have been very careful, so there was no way we could have come into contact with anyone who was positive.

Antony and Ann Frith, pictured at The Shoe Healer on Scot Lane. Picture: NDFP-13-04-21-ShoeHealer 2-NMSYAntony and Ann Frith, pictured at The Shoe Healer on Scot Lane. Picture: NDFP-13-04-21-ShoeHealer 2-NMSY
Antony and Ann Frith, pictured at The Shoe Healer on Scot Lane. Picture: NDFP-13-04-21-ShoeHealer 2-NMSY

"Alarm bells started ringing when we both got notifications at the exact same time.”

Antony says they were told by NHS officials that they had both come into contact with someone who had tested positive on March 18.

But on that day, Ann spent the entire day at home alone while Antony spent the day in isolation, driving alone to Ipswich to collect a new car.

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“We knew we couldn’t have come into contact with anyone on that day,” he said. “That’s when we started to think something was a bit odd.”

The pair believe they were targeted in a bid to stop the shop reopening.The pair believe they were targeted in a bid to stop the shop reopening.
The pair believe they were targeted in a bid to stop the shop reopening.

They were told they must stay at home and self-isolate for ten days – unless they took Covid tests proving they were negative.

The pair instantly booked in for tests at Doncaster Sheffield Airport – and the results came back clear the following day.

"All I can think is that someone passed our numbers on deliberately to try and stop the shop reopening,” he said. “We don’t have a problem with self isolating if we had tested positive, or come into contact with someone positive, but we haven’t.

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"My father in law has cancer so we have been very careful. It must have been someone in possession of both our mobile phone numbers and not many people would have those.

Antony and Ann Frith, pictured at The Shoe Healer on Scot Lane. Picture: NDFP-13-04-21-ShoeHealer 1-NMSYAntony and Ann Frith, pictured at The Shoe Healer on Scot Lane. Picture: NDFP-13-04-21-ShoeHealer 1-NMSY
Antony and Ann Frith, pictured at The Shoe Healer on Scot Lane. Picture: NDFP-13-04-21-ShoeHealer 1-NMSY

"When the phone rang, they told us our names and numbers had been put forward.

"We believe it was done deliberately to stop the shop re-opening. It’s astonishing that the system can be used by someone in such a malicious way.”

Police are now investigating the incident.

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