18km stretch disinfected after Covid-19 patient rides on motorcycle to Tirupur hospital

COIMBATORE: A 59-year-old Covid-19 positive patient from Avinashi in Tirupur district waited for a ‘108 ambulance’ for 12 hours and was still failed to be picked up by an ambulance. Finally, he rode on a two-wheeler, with his son riding pillion, for at least 18 km from Avinashi. He was admitted to the Tirupur Government Hospital early Thursday morning.
After the incident, the entire route from Avinashi to Tirupur Government stretch had been disinfected, said Tirupur district collector K Vijayakarthikeyan.
According to public health department sources, the 59-year-old man is a hospital worker at Government Medical College and ESI Hospital in Coimbatore. He lives with his family members at Narasa Street in Avinashi, Tirupur district. He was assisting nurses in Covid-19 ward of ESI hospital.
Sources added that his swab sample was collected on Sunday and results arrived on Wednesday afternoon showing that he was positive for Covid-19.
Immediately, he contacted 108 ambulance services for an ambulance to travel to Tirupur Government Hospital for treatment. However, no ambulance reached his home as they were all occupied. Therefore, he quarantined himself in his home.
Around 5am on Thursday, he rode on his motorcycle to Tirupur Government Hospital along with his son. He was admitted to Tirupur Government Hospital around 5.30am. On Thursday afternoon, he was sent to ESI hospital in Coimbatore for further treatment. His son, who did not have any symptoms, was advised to self-quarantine.
Some sources stated that health department officials were waiting near his house to send him to the hospital in a 108 ambulance on Wednesday afternoon. According to them, the ambulance was scheduled to arrive around 1.15pm on Wednesday. However, in reality, no ambulance reached his home until 9pm.
The sources stated that the man isolated himself and health department staff locked his house gates from outside. When he was riding on a motorcycle along with his son (21), a health inspector and a cop followed him.
The health department has taken 75 swab samples from the residents (including his family members) of Narasa Street and the area was sealed on Friday.
The Tirupur district collector said the district administration was inquiring about the matter. “We will take necessary action and private ambulances are also to be available compulsorily in cases of emergency,” said Vijayakathikeyan.