COVID-19 Facility Escapee Boards Bus, All Riders Get Quarantined

COVID-19 patient escapee boards a bus home

As the number of domestic COVID-19 cases rises, we’re seeing more people being isolated in quarantine facilities for treatment. Being kept away from family members and friends is uncomfortable, physically and emotionally.

While the desire to break free is reasonable, you must be infection-free first so that you don’t carry the virus into the community.

Nonetheless, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Unable to bear the loneliness that had accumulated after spending 33 days in isolation, a Bac Giang COVID-19 patient fled a quarantine facility to board a bus home.

Here’s how the story unfolded.

COVID-19 escapee goes home on a bus

covid-19 escapee
Image credit: Tuoi Tre

On 31st May, 29-year-old Sung My Qua tested positive for COVID-19 and was warded at a quarantine facility in Bac Giang. For further observation and treatment, he was sent to Military Hospital 110 on 3rd July.

At 6AM the following morning, the hospital staff searched everywhere in the hospital but couldn’t find Qua. 3 hours later, hospital management called an urgent meeting with local police, military officers, and the press, to disclose information about an infected patient’s escape.

The escape of an infected person sparked a commotion, and a massive search that involved police in different provinces.

Starting from 9AM, all vehicles departing from My Dinh Bus Station to Tuyen Quang and Ha Giang were pulled over and searched.

Within 4 hours after the news of Qua’s escape was broken to local police, he was found while en route Tuyen Quang.

He was found at 12.30PM

covid-19 escapee
Image credit: Tuoi Tre

According to Dan Tri, Qua climbed the walls to escape the quarantine facility. After that, he travelled to Hanoi’s My Dinh Bus Station to board a bus home before being stopped and returned to a COVID-19 facility.

There were 28 riders on the bus, including 26 passengers, a bus assistant, and a driver.

Because they all shared a ride with a COVID-19 patient, everyone on that bus was taken into a quarantine facility for treatment.

A person’s selfish behavior endangers a community

Most riders on that bus began their rides with different destinations in their minds. However, thanks to an irresponsible fellow rider, they all headed for the same stop – a COVID-19 quarantine facility. Qua’s case is a perfect example of how a person’s reckless behavior affects other people and puts the community at risk.

The pandemic has put every Vietnam resident through a rough patch. To curb the spread of COVID-19 and return to normalcy, we’re relying on individuals to make responsible choices.

While waiting to get inoculated, let’s stay indoors, take COVID-19 tests whenever possible, and mask up when you are in public places.

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Cover image adapted from: Tuoi Tre

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