Furore as +ve man taken to hosp on bike

COIMBATORE: A 58-yearold man from Avinashi in Tirupur district, who was infected by COVID-19, was forced to ride pillion with his son to get admitted in government hospital for treatment as there was a long delay in arrival of ambulance to take him to the hospital.

Taking note of it, district administration officials have sought an explanation from the health department on the issue. A resident of Avinashi, the man was working as a lab assistant in ESI Government Hospital in Coimbatore. He tested positive for COVID-19 on July 1.

“He called the 108 ambulance around afternoon to go to Tirupur Government Hospital from his residence. However, the ambulance did not come till the next day morning. After a frustrating wait, he set out riding pillion in a two wheeler with his relative to the hospital for undergoing treatment,” said an official.

Ambulance staff claimed that there exists a shortage in vehicles. “Only two ambulances have been allotted to ferry COVID-19 patients. They are stationed in Tirupur old bus stand and in Kumar Nagar and have to attend calls even from faraway places like. So both the vehicles are busy and were insufficient to meet the requirements,” said a staff.

One more ambulance has been added to the fleet from Friday.