Poker Pro Bertrand "Elky" Grospellier and Fiancée Contract COVID-19

Poker player Bertrand "Elky" Grospellier and his fiancée Jenny contracted COVID-19 after a ride with an infected Uber driver. The couple, who had been in Thailand in February, decided to follow quarantine rules and stay home upon their return to Prague. However, when they took their first outing in two weeks and called an Uber, they unwittingly rode with a driver who was infected with COVID-19. They received a message a few days after the ride informing them of the driver's positive test result. The driver had contacted 90 passengers in three days.

Jenny showed symptoms 48 hours after the ride, while Bertrand showed no symptoms. The couple immediately self-isolated and called the hotline to check their COVID-19 status. However, the ambulance only arrived two weeks later, on March 18, and they received their positive test results more than a week after that. All contacts of the couple, including visitors, tested negative for COVID-19.

Despite the challenges, the couple expressed gratitude for the support they received. They highlighted the effectiveness of the early lockdown in the Czech Republic, which helped keep infection rates low. Local authorities and neighbors provided assistance, including food and supplies, during their quarantine.