KARACHI: A man, suspected of being a coronavirus patient, committed suicide by jumping from the third-floor isolation ward of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre on Monday.

JPMC’s executive director Dr Seemin Jamali said Fawad Abbasi, 37, was brought to the emergency department of the hospital from Landhi on April 25 with symptoms of Covid-19. He was also reportedly a drug addict.

As his chest X-ray indicated that he might be infected with the virus, he was shifted to an isolation centre at the Medicine Ward-23 on Sunday at 11.30am. On Monday at around 8.10am, he jumped from the third floor and suffered head injuries. He was taken to the casualty ward, where he died during treatment, added Dr Jamali.

Later, his test result showed he was not infected with Covid-19.

CCTV footage obtained from the area also suggested that he committed suicide.

Dr Jamali said that his relatives did not inform doctors that he was an addict.

The police said that he was addicted to ice.

The body was handed over to the family after fulfilling legal formalities.

Over 50 city cops infected with Covid-19

The number of policemen infected with Covid-19 in Karachi has crossed the 50 mark, it emerged on Monday.

Police sources said that 51 policemen, including six inspectors, had so far been infected with the virus.

They said that one of the six inspectors was treated and discharged from hospital, while the remaining were either in isolation wards or at their homes in self-isolation.

They added that so far no policeman had been infected with the virus from any other major cities of Sindh.

The sources said that on Monday two more policemen, a sub-inspector and a head constable, were tested positive for the coronavirus. They were performing their duty at the cash distribution of the Ehsaas programme at the Govt Degree College Razzakabad, Quaidabad.

Karachi Police Chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said that majority of infected policemen were not given any active field duty.

He said that an inspector was from the investigation branch while the other inspector was working as a staff officer.

A few constables were working in Madadgar 15. Likewise, some police officers are guards/drivers of senior police officers, or VIPs.

Meanwhile, DIG-South Sharjeel Kharal along with SSP-South (investigation) Amir Saud Magsi on Monday visited residence of an inspector, who has recovered and been discharged from hospital, in Mehmoodabad and inquired after his health.

The inspector was the first policeman to recover from the virus. The DIG presented him a bouquet and sweets and assured him of all possible assistance till his full recovery.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2020