‘Missing’ Coronavirus Suspect From Ireland Found In Bhubaneswar

Cuttack: An Irish national, who had reportedly fled the isolation ward for suspected coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, was found at a hotel in the Odisha capital on Friday.

According to media reports, the Irish man, who was suffering from fever and cold, was admitted to the premier hospital after a screening at the Biju Patnaik International Airport on Thursday as per the protocol. The SCB authorities later claimed that he went missing from the ward last night and lodged a complaint in the regard at Mangalabag police station.

“A foreign national along with his colleague had come from Capital Hospital to SCB at around 8.30 PM yesterday. The foreigner’s colleague consulted the doctors at pulmonary medicine department following which he was asked to immediately admit the Irish man for diagnosis. Accordingly, the attendant went downstairs to bring the Irish national but when they did not return for long, the doctors intimated the matter to authorities concerned. Later, a complaint was also lodged at the police station,” SCB Emergency Officer Bhubanananda Maharana said in a statement.

Refuting the reports, Capital Hospital Director Ashok Patnaik said that the Irish man was reluctant to get admitted in SCB and had instead returned to Bhubaneswar.

“The man was suffering from cold and had come to Capital Hospital for consultation, following which he was referred to SCB. He might have got scared when the hospital authorities there asked him to get admitted for treatment and came back to his hotel without informing them,” stated Patnaik.

The Capital Hospital Director said that his samples will be brought for tests. “We will also examine the people who came with his contact in these days,” he added.