2 die after consuming spirit stolen from Covid Care Centre in Kerala
Two persons died in Kerala’s Kollam district after consuming surgical spirit kept at a Covid First Line Treatment Centre (CFLTC). The deceased were identified as Prasad of Pattazhy and his friend Muruganandan. Two others — Rajeev and Gopi — who had also consumed the spirit are in a critical condition.
The surgical spirit was stolen from a private hospital in Pathanapuram which was functioning as a CFLTC.
In the statement recorded by police, Gopi said that Muruganandan who worked as a security guard at the private hospital had brought the spirit. The police said that Muruganandan is
believed to have taken the spirit from hospital and diluted it before consuming it along with others.
According to hospital authorities some quantity of surgical spirit which was used for sanitising hospital equipment, was found missing.
The four consumed the spirit as liquor was not available in the state due to lockdown.
It may be noted that the government had decided to reopen bars and liquor outlets in the state from Thursday.
Meanwhile, the police and excise officials conducted a search at the hospital.
Kerala reports 13,270 new cases of Covid 19 on Wednesday.
The active cases have come down to 1,09,794. During the last 24 hours, 1,21,521 samples were tested and the Test Positivity Rate was 11.79 per cent.
The state reported 147 deaths taking the death toll to 11,655.
At present 4.92 lakh people are under observation including 4.63 lakh under home or institutional quarantine.
The state government had announced lifting of lockdown restrictions in a graded manner from Thursday.