Birbhum district administration has ordered a probe into the “conduct” of a doctor of a government hospital who was traceless for hours after he tested positive for Covid-19.

After a search of around 12 hours, the doctor in his mid-40s was found near Suri district hospital and admitted to the Covid hospital in Bolpur on Monday. Health officials said they were planning to shift him to a hospital in Calcutta as he had comorbidities.

A police source said that though the doctor knew he was positive, he went around in the town on his bike.

“I directed the chief medical officer of health (Himadri Ari) to probe the case,” said Moumita Godara Basu, the Birbhum district magistrate.

A source said the doctor, a medical official at Mohammedbazar block hospital, was a frontline Covid warrior who treated some 200 persons at his private chamber recently. He tested positive on Sunday night.

“I asked him to get admitted to the Covid hospital. But when I sent the team to his house (in Suri), he was not there. The police were told and a search launched,” a health official said. “I can’t explain his behaviour, he is known to be a very good doctor. Maybe he got anxious on seeing his report.”