Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
Video Credit: AsiaWire
This shocking footage shows a Chinese hospital patient removing his surgical mask and deliberately coughing in the faces of two nurses after he was reportedly unable to purchase medication for his fever.
The unnamed patient had visited Xiaogan Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, in Central China’s Hubei Province, with a high fever on 27th January.
Footage from the hospital pharmacy shows two uniformed nurses seated at the front counter when the poorly hospital visitors arrives and hands one of them his prescription.
When he is told there is no longer any stock of the medication he requires, the man can be seen slamming both hands on the counter before pulling down the surgical on his face.
He then proceeds to cough in the direction of both nurses, who immediately stand up and walk away, the video shows.
The incident has caused an uproar online mainland China and neighbouring countries reel from the rapid spread of the new coronavirus strain from Wuhan, Hubei’s provincial capital.
According to the hospital, the patient in question, who is believed to have had the common cold, later left the facility.
Spokesperson Mr Zhang told local media that both health workers involved were not affected by the stunt.
The hospital had already contacted Xiaogan police, who have summoned the patient for questioning.
He said: “The incident has angered our hospital staff, but there is also a lot of sympathy for the patient.
“We don’t wish any harm on him.”
Chinese media has reported a number of similar incidents as desperate patients seek alleviation from symptoms with possible links to the novel coronavirus.
The Wuhan coronavirus has killed 132 people and infected 5,900 others in mainland China since late 2019.
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