18km stretch disinfected as patient rides to hosp

Coimbatore: A 59-year-old Covid-19 patient from Avinashi in Tirupur district rode on a two-wheeler, with his son riding pillion, for at least 18km to reach the government hospital after he waited for a 108 ambulance for 12 hours in vain. The entire route from Avinashi to Tirupur government hospital was subsequently disinfected, said Tirupur collector K Vijayakarthikeyan.
According to a public health department source, the patient is a staffer of the ESI Hospital in Coimbatore. He lives with his family members on Narasa Street at Avinashi in Tirupur. He used to assist nurses in the Covid-19 ward at the ESI Hospital.
The source said samples were collected from the man on Sunday. The results, which arrived on Wednesday afternoon, showed him positive for Covid-19.
Immediately, he contacted 108 ambulance services to go to the government hospital in Tirupur. However, no ambulance reached his home, as they were all occupied. Hence, he remained in home quarantine.
Around 5am on Thursday, the man, along with his son, rode on his motorcycle to the hospital, where he was admitted around 5.30am. On Thursday afternoon, he was shifted to the ESI Hospital in Coimbatore. His son, who did not have any symptoms, was advised to remain in home quarantine.
Some sources said health department officials were waiting near his house to take him to the hospital in a 108 ambulance on Wednesday afternoon. According to them, the ambulance was scheduled to arrive around 1.15pm that day. However, no ambulance reached his home until 9pm.
The health department has taken samples from 75 residents (including his family members) of Narasa Street, which was sealed on Friday. The collector said the district administration was inquiring about the matter. “We will take necessary action. Private ambulances should also be made available in cases of emergency.”