Xinjiang probe into claim Covid-19 patient died after being neglected at quarantine centre
- A woman claiming to be the man’s daughter said his appeals for help at quarantine facility went unanswered until it was too late
- Korla authorities say they are investigating the allegations, which prompted many Xinjiang residents to share their own stories on social media
The man, identified only by his family name Guo, tested positive for the virus and was sent to an isolation facility where his condition worsened, according to a social media post written by a woman claiming to be his daughter.
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In the post, the woman from Shenzhen in Guangdong province, southern China, said Guo was neglected, despite complaining about breathing difficulties and loss of consciousness.
He called an ambulance but none was sent, while in a similar call to the police Guo was told he was fine as he could still sit up, according to the post, which was widely circulated on Chinese social media.
The Korla government said on Wednesday afternoon that investigations by health, police and party disciplinary authorities were ongoing.
No deaths from the virus have been officially recorded this month in Xinjiang.
The woman’s social media post said that, on the day before he died, Guo lost consciousness but the facility’s doctors and leaders refused to send him to a proper hospital. He was eventually transferred after losing consciousness again, but died the next morning, she said.
