Patients investigated for endangering public safety in China

Two patients infected with the novel coronavirus are under police investigation for endangering public safety in China.

In the southwestern Chinese city of Jinghong, one female patient recovering from the novel coronavirus was put under coercive measures by police for attempting to spread the infectious virus to unspecified personnel during isolation observation and treatment, the city's epidemic prevention and control headquarters said Tuesday.

The 39-year-old patient surnamed Li is from Jinghong's Jingha Village. She had traveled to Wuhan, the center of the novel coronavirus epidemic, during the December to January period.

She had a cough and other symptoms after returning to Jinghong and was confirmed to be infected with the virus on Jan. 24.

Li attacked hospital personnel, escaped and went to her sister's home while receiving treatment in isolation.

After she was cured and discharged from the hospital on Feb. 3, Li was put under coercive measures by police for endangering public safety through dangerous means.

Meanwhile, in the northeastern Chinese city of Changchun, one male patient infected by the virus was also under police investigation on Feb. 2 for endangering public safety, local police said Tuesday.

The 50-year-old patient surnamed Wang is an employee of a pharmaceutical company in Wuhan. After returning to Changchun on Jan. 19, he did not report his work and life history in the key epidemic area and did not stay at home for isolation observation.

After having a cough and fever, he even had contact and meals with other people many times, causing five people to become infected and a large number of people to undergo isolation observation.

Investigations into the two cases are underway.