Woman suffering from typhoid declared COVID-19 patient in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI: A woman who passed away from typhoid at Islamabad PIMS Hospital was declared a patient of the coronavirus, her family has claimed.

According to sources, Khalida Bibi was admitted to the emergency ward of the hospital on June 10. After Khalida Bibi’s death, she was immediately transferred to the COVID-19 ward at the hospital and refused to give the body to her family.

The deceased was identified as a COVID-19 patient by the hospital although a test conducted on 10 June from a private laboratory declared her negative from the virus, according to Wasim Bari, son of the deceased Khalida Bibi.

He alleged when his mothers’ condition worsened after being admitted to the hospital for two days. The hospital administration said that she was under intensive care and even her family members were not permitted to see her.

Bari further said the hospital’s administration is now refusing to hand over the body of his deceased mother. He said that his mother was suffering from typhoid for a long time and was admitted to the hospital.

He said that they conducted a COVID-19 test from a private hospital prior to admission at PIMS Hospital which declared her as negative from the virus.

Bari decried injustice that his mother had died from typhoid however, she was declared a coronavirus victim and her body was not being handed over for proper burial rites.

He appealed to the prime minister and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to provide justice as they are helpless against the hospital staff and be allowed to hold a proper funeral for their deceased mother.