NOT FILLY WELL
Welsh social club pals slammed over Doncaster races trip were waiting on Covid test results BEFORE weekend away
WELSH social club pals who were slammed over a trip to Doncaster races were waiting on coronavirus test results BEFORE the weekend away.
The 15 friends went on the journey despite some suffering Covid symptoms and waiting on swab results.
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Member Donna Clifton, whose partner was on the trip, spoke out after the weekend away was blamed for a virus spike in the Rhondda Valleys, South Wales.
Pubs in Rhondda Cynon Taf have been ordered to shut at 11pm and people are banned from meeting other households in the latest Wales lockdown.
The area now has the highest rate of infection across Wales - with a rate of 82.1 per 100,000 people testing positive in the last week.
The weekend away has been linked to the Lindsay Cons Club in the village of Abercynon - with club bosses saying it has been "dragged through the mud."
It comes after hundreds of people flocked to get tested at a centre in the small Welsh village.
'WAITING ON TEST RESULTS'
Donna said: "It's an annual trip that's been running for years. They had a bet, they had a pint, same as what happens every year.
"Nothing was done any different. I know they didn't stop off in pubs on the way up to Doncaster because they never do.
"They go straight to Doncaster, into a pub, into a hotel, back home on the Sunday.
"A number of people had Covid before the trip but hadn't had any test results back.
"It was about 15 of them on the bus. They did the same as they do every year.
"They didn't take precautions because nobody had Covid. So you wouldn't take precautions."
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Donna said the group did not enter Doncaster Racecourse but instead went to a pub and hotel to place bets.
Donna added that those who have since tested positive have suffered "flu like symptoms" with a loss of taste and smell.
Club treasurer Phillip Brown hit out after the club was linked to the trip by Welsh Government health minister Vaughan Gething.
Phillip said the venue had been "virtually blamed" for the spread in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
The club had to close days before the races because of coronavirus fears - with a number of people later becoming sick.
Phillip said the bus trip itself was not run by the venue - but four or five of his members attended.
He said: "They have dragged our club through the mud, virtually blaming us for a situation in Rhondda Cynon Taf and locking down because they reckon we are responsible.
"We are not responsible. We've done every measure possibly to help Public Health Wales and the Welsh Government."
TRIP LED TO 'A NUMBER OF INFECTIONS'
The health minister said the day out led to a "significant" rise in cases after a coach load of friends went on a pub crawl and then racing.
He told a press conference: "There are a number of clusters in Rhondda Cynon Taf – two of which are significant.
"One is associated with a rugby club and pub in the lower Rhondda and the other with a club outing to the Doncaster races, which stopped off at a series of pubs on the way."
He said the trip led to "a number of infections".
But Doncaster Racecourse hit back - saying they had received no visitors from South Wales since they reopened.
In a statement the course said: "Doncaster Racecourse has received no contact from any organisation, including the NHS or the Welsh Government, to verify the attendance of any individuals at last week’s event for the purposes of track and trace.
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“In addition, we do not have any ticket bookings for any groups from the South Wales area for Wednesday’s event.
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“We will be contacting the Welsh Health Minister as a matter of urgency to clarify the situation.”
The Welsh Government later tweeted: "We understand that though the original intention of the party was to travel to the Doncaster Racecourse, the party did not enter the racecourse as originally planned."
Health Secretary Matt Hancock says a national lockdown is the 'last line of defence' in coronavirus fight
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