Two patients with suspected symptoms of the novel coronavirus fled the Birbhum district hospital’s isolation ward here early on Friday morning, but police have brought them back from home within hours.

The two, residents of Chandrapur in Birbhum, were in a group of eight masons who had returned from Gujarat on Thursday. The duo were being monitored in isolation at the hospital after they had complained of fever and cough.

“The two were kept in isolation as they had cold and cough, besides a travel history from another state. When we learnt that they had fled from the hospital, we immediately informed police about it. The police brought them back to the isolation ward on Friday evening. They would remain under observation,” said Himdri Ari, chief medical officer in Birbhum.

Sources said the patients seemed to have fled from the hospital around 1am on Friday.

“Their swabs will be sent to Calcutta for tests only if the condition worsens over the next two days,” Ari said.

Family members of the two said the duo had panicked and returned their home in Chandrapur as they had been kept in the isolation ward. Government officials convinced them of the health risk involved in their action.

The duo’s escape raised questions about the security of patients at a government hospital, particularly those with suspected coronavirus symptoms.

Officials said the isolation ward was in a separate block on the hospital premises and there was no one to look after the duo at night.

“I would talk to the hospital authorities to know why there was no guard. However, a guard has been deployed at the block after the incident,” said a senior health department official.

The Birbhum district police and the administration opened 24-hour helplines (7602676777/ 7602676500) in Suri where people could share information related to Covid-19. The Hooghly district administration has also launched a similar helpline number (18003456035).

“There will be police, civil and health department officials to man the special control room 24X7. We are also campaigning at villages to make them aware of the coronavirus,” Birbhum police chief Shyam Singh said.

The East Burdwan administration on Friday held a meeting with owners of private hospitals. The hospitals having 50 beds or more were asked to start an isolation ward with five beds.

“There are around 15 such nursing homes that have 50 beds and more. There will be an isolation centre for suspected novel coronavirus patients,” said Pranab Roy, the chief medical officer of health, East Burdwan.