Virus Patient Flees Hospital, Takes Taxi To Office

A 58-year-old man fled Tseung Kwan O Hospital on Saturday night after being told he'd tested positive for the coronavirus, returning an hour later as staff and police attempted to find him.

Staff called the police and sent security guards to look for the man, who refused to be admitted and said he had to return to his office after receiving his preliminary results at about 7.30pm.

He returned to the emergency room an hour later. Police said he'd made the round trip to his office in San Po Kong by taxi. He's since been admitted to an isolation ward.

The Covid-19 patient's journey comes two days after a woman who was awaiting hospital admission after testing positive for the virus was revealed to have left her Ho Man Tin flat to go shopping.

Officials said the woman had told them she went out to buy something to prepare for her hospital stay, but was unable to give details on how long she was out for.

The Centre for Health Protection said it understood that some people waiting for hospital admission were feeling anxious and repeated calls to those waiting at home to be patient.