It Took More Than 24 Hours To Catch An Elderly COVID-19 Patient Who Escaped From A Hong Kong Hospital

Photo illustration (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - Hong Kong police, on the evening of Sunday, December 20, arrested a positive COVID-19 patient who escaped on Friday, December 18. The patient had previously fled from one of the largest hospitals in the city while being treated. It took more than 24 hours to catch it.

Li Wan-keung, 63, an elderly patient who was initially identified as patient 7379, was put in isolation at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on December 14, after being confirmed positive for COVID-19.

Nonetheless, police said the man fled via the stairs on Friday, December 18 wearing a jacket over a hospital gown.

Police said via their Facebook page late on Sunday that Li was found at the Mong Kok workers' neighborhood at around 11pm local time and sent to hospital for treatment.

Police said people who fled quarantine could face a penalty of HK $ 5,000 - about Rp9.1 million - and the threat of imprisonment of up to two months.

So far Hong Kong has reported more than eight thousand cases of the coronavirus and 130 deaths.