hunt for escapee

Kota Kinabalu: Police are searching for a Covid-19 patient who escaped from Queen Elizabeth 1 Hospital (HQE1) where he was taken for treatment on Wednesday.

City police Chief ACP Habibi Majinji (pic) said the 45-year-old male was brought in with five others from the Covid-19 Intan Quarantine and Treatment Center to be placed at HQE1 for further treatment.

“Upon arrival, they were taken to the fifth floor of the hospital and were instructed to wait in the elevator area while one of them was sent to a nearby ward.

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 “The groups’ escort who later returned to the elevator room found that the suspect was not with the other three patients before asking the Rela members who were on duty on the floor of the patients’ whereabouts.

 Habibi said efforts to track down the man were carried out around the hospital but failed.

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 “The suspect was admitted to the quarantine centre on November 13 after being confirmed positive for Covid-19.

 The suspect’s whereabouts are still unknown and further investigations are underway in accordance with Section 270 of the Penal Code and Section 22 (b) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988,” he said.