In a shocking incident, the body of a one-year-old boy, who died due to non-COVID-19 related complications at Cuttacks Sirama Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospitals (SCBMCH) isolation ward, was abandoned by his parents on July 11 as they suspected that the boy was suffering from coronavirus. When the hospital staff could not locate the parents of the infant, they alerted the local police.

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Parents of the deceased infant, who hail from Balangir district, had brought their son in a critical condition to SCBMCH a few days ago. As per protocol, the hospital authorities had admitted the boy to the isolation ward, where he was undergoing treatment in the ICU. However, the infant succumbed to his illness on July 11. It is believed that the parents had suspected coronavirus infection, due to long process for testing, discharging and disposal protocols. Hence, they decided to abandon the boys body.

The swab sample of the deceased was later sent for COVID-19 testing and test report is awaited for further probe.