A coronavirus patient in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia stood outside gloating to reporters about his treatment at a local hospital — before he was dragged back inside by panicked staff, according to a report.
The unidentified man, who had apparently been cleared of COVID-19, could barely contain his excitement as he spoke to throngs of reporters outside the medical center in Tbilisi, the country’s capital, according to Metro UK.
“I am so happy,” said the man. “Thank you very [much], people of Georgia. Thank you very [much], thank you so very [much]. Hospital, doctors in hospital Georgia. This hospital is perfect and professional.”
Moments later, staffers are shown on video grabbing the man’s arm and pulling him back inside.
He was eventually taken to another hospital in the town of Abastumani, where patients are being held under quarantine, according to the report.
The country has only one current confirmed coronavirus case — a 50-year-old man who had a “mild form” of the bug confirmed Wednesday, local authorities said.
Authorities appeared to be referring to the man treated at the Tbilisi hospital — calling him a Georgian citizen who traveled in Iran and came back to the Georgian border by way of Azerbaijan in a taxi. He was described as “Iranian” in the Metro report.
Eleven suspected patients who recently returned to Georgia from countries experiencing an outbreak have tested negative, officials said.
In Iran, 245 people have been infected — including Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi — and 26 have died, so far the highest number of fatalities outside China.
There is just one confirmed coronavirus case in Georgia.More than 83,000 global cases of the infection have been reported — in every continent except Antarctica. The total death toll exceeds 2,800.
