Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): A man from West Bengal, who was under observation at an isolation ward for suspected coronavirus infection, fled from the general hospital here on Wednesday morning, police said.
Police have launched a massive manhunt to trace the man, believed to be in his thirties.
Messages have been sent to all police stations about the incident.
Earlier this month as well, a man under observation for suspected coronavirus infection at the isolation ward of a hospital in Kerala fled, but was tracked and brought back within hours.
Read: Disappearance of COVID-19 suspects in India worrisome: ICMR
The man was among those who had interacted with the three-member family who returned from Italy and had tested positive for the virus.
A 3-member family, which had come from Italy recently and had tested positive along with two of their relatives had not reported their arrival to the authorities, health officials said.
Read: Coronavirus: Doctor's advice on precautions to follow
Speaking to ETV Bharat, a top ICMR official expressed serious concern following reports that more than 450 persons with travel history to COVID-19 affected countries remain untraceable in Punjab and Andhra Pradesh.
"This is a matter of grave concern. India is still in stage 2 of COVID-19 pandemic, but the disappearance of so many people coming from COVID-19 affected countries, raises threat of emerging community transmission of COVID-19," he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
