Covid Escapee Tells Court He's Scared Of Injections

A Covid-19 patient accused of fleeing from his isolation room in Queen Elizabeth Hospital last Friday has told a court that he left because he is afraid of injections.

Police had launched a territory-wide manhunt for Li Wan-keung, finally tracking him down in Mong Kok, 53 hours after he apparently went on the run.

Li, 63, has refused to disclose where he went during that time and is now facing a charge of exposing others to infection.

Appearing at Kowloon City Court on Thursday, Li said he left the hospital due to his fear of medical treatment and injections, and he did not realise that the incident would be taken so seriously.

Prosecutors objected to Li's request for bail.

But the magistrate agreed to release him on bail of HK$500, noting that he is no longer subject to a quarantine order and has now tested negative for Covid-19.

Li was barred from leaving Hong Kong and ordered to report to the police regularly.

His case was adjourned to February 5.