COVID patient stabs 3 nurses in New Taipei City hospital

A man confined to a negative pressure isolation unit in a hospital in Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, stabbed three nurses with a knife after becoming emotionally unstable this morning.

According to an SETN report, at around 7:20 am, a 62-year-old man named Hong became dissatisfied with being unattended in the isolation unit on the 11th floor of Taipei Medical University Shuangho Hospital, and attempted to leave. When nurses attempted to prevent him from leaving, he became angry and slashed at the nurses with a knife.

All three nurses were female. A 23-year-old nurse named Shi, and a 27-year-old nurse named Tsai each suffered a stab wound to the abdomen, while a 25-year-old nurse named Chen was stabbed in the chest and right hand.

The three nurses were sent to the emergency department for treatment. Fortunately no internal organs were damaged, and none of the wounds are considered life-threatening.

Police dressed in personal protective equipment restrained Mr Hong and kept him handcuffed in the isolation unit during interrogation.

New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi, and Deputy-Chief of the Ministry of Health and Welfare Shi Chong-liang visited the nurses a few hours after the incident. Hou gave each nurse NT$100,000 in consolation money and apologized to the nurses. The mayor thanked the nurses, on behalf of citizens for their hard work and dedication.

Mr Hong is expected to be charged with attempted murder, and violations of Article 24 of the Medical Care Act.

Cover picture: New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi visits injured nurses. Photo: New Taipei City Government.

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