A 22-year-old youth has attempted to escape from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (IDH) in Mulleriyawa, the Police said.
Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said the youth from Modara was admitted to the hospital after being detected as a coronavirus patient.
He had attempted escape around 06.00pm yesterday.
The youth was captured by officials from the security unit of the hospital and readmitted to the IDH hospital.
DIG Ajith Rohana said that the man has been identified as a drug addict.
Measures are being taken to treat him at a special treatment facility with Police protection.
The Police Spokesman said three more Covid patients were reported to have escaped from various hospitals over the last 2 –months.
He said that the patients had attempted to escape from the Ragama, Salawa, and IDH hospitals and all were identified to be addicted to drugs.
A few days ago, a woman had escaped from the IDH Hospital with her 2 ½-year –old son, following which the Police has arrested her and readmitted her to the IDH.
The Mulleriyawa Police is conducting investigations into the patients who had attempted to escape from the IDH hospital.
DIG Ajith Rohana said that a special system is being formulated to treat coronavirus patients addicted to alcohol and substances.
The Police have requested relatives of such patients to cooperate by informing officials of the patients’ addictions. (NewsWire)