Delhi Police constable dies due to COVID-19 after two hospitals refuse to admit him

Amit Kumar, a 31-year-old police constable from Delhi, passed away on Tuesday (May 5) due to COVID-19.

This is the first death reported from the Delhi police due to the disease.

The constable’s friend alleged that atleast two hospitals had refused to admit him, with one hospital denying admission while another provided basic treatment for him and released him despite his worsening health condition.

The friend said Kumar had been taken to Haiderpur COVID centre after he had experienced shortness of breath. However, the staff there told them to go Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar hospital.

At the BSA Hospital, health officials had said they would conduct the tests for COVID-19, but that he would not be admitted to the hospital.

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Kumar was then taken to Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital, where he was given a few medicines. The two of the were then sent to a test centre at Ashok Vihar for tests and a check-up. However, the staff at the centre reportedly said they would not be able to take care of him if he was admitted there and that he would have to manage everything on his own.

“I told them he can’t even talk because of breathlessness, he won’t be able to do anything,” The Hindu quoted the colleague as saying.

Kumar was then brought back home, after which his colleague tried to contact other hospitals to admit him.

After his condition deteriorated on Tuesday evening, he was taken to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital based on the suggestion from another colleague. However, he was declared brought dead by doctors.

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Kumar’s sample was sent for COVID-19 test and the reports came as positive on Wednesday, police said. Ten other officers who came in contact with him have been isolated.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condoled the death of the police constable and said his family will be provided with an ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore.

“Amit ji did not care for his life and kept serving us Delhi people. He got infected with corona and passed away. I pay homage to his sacrifice on behalf of all Delhi people. An ex gratia of Rs one crore will be given to his family,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.

अमित जी अपनी जान की परवाह ना करते हुए करोना की इस महामारी के समय हम दिल्ली वालों की सेवा करते रहे। वे खुद करोना से संक्रमित हो गए और हमें छोड़ कर चले गए। उनकी शहादत को मैं सभी दिल्लीवासियो की ओर से नमन करता हूँ। उनके परिवार को 1 करोड़ रुपए की सम्मान राशि दी जाएगी। https://t.co/n1eNmZNNCw

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 7, 2020

Kumar had been posted at the Bharat Nagar Police Station in northwest Delhi, police said. He is survived by his wife and three-year-old son.