Police have tracked down a COVID-19 patient who fled his hospital room, putting an end late Sunday to a two-day hunt for the escapee.
Li Wan-keung, 63, was carried on a stretcher and into an ambulance in Mong Kok, where he was found. He was re-admitted into Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei around midnight on Monday, according to the Hospital Authority.
#UPDATE! At abt 11PM on Dec 20, #HKPF found the male patient w/ #COVID19 who had escaped from hospital on Dec 18. He's been escorted & admitted to hospital for treatment. Thanks for info provided by public. Pls safeguard #PublicHealth & stay united in the fight against #COVID19!
— Hong Kong Police Force (@hkpoliceforce) December 20, 2020
The patient, who is in stable condition, was reported missing on Friday. At around 5pm that day, a hospital worker spotted the man making a run from his ward. The worker chased the patient as he fled via a staircase and out of the building.
Late Friday and over the weekend, local news outlets called for anybody with information about the man’s whereabouts to report the patient. He was wearing running shoes when he escaped, the Hospital Authority said.
In a press conference on Saturday, authorities said he had earlier been cooperative with staff and had to be coaxed into taking tests and treatments. He also attempted to flee on Thursday, one day before his successful escape.
It is unclear why Li ran away from the hospital, nor where he went during his 54 hours between his escape and police locating him.
The episode prompted the Hospital Authority to deploy extra patrols on isolation ward floors to enhance patient management and surveillance.
While there have been cases of returning travelers caught and jailed for breaching quarantine orders, this is the first reported incident of a COVID-positive patient fleeing from a hospital since the outbreak began in January.
