A COVID-19 patient left Queen Elizabeth Hospital in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Friday without permission, local media reported.

The patient was admitted to the hospital for medical quarantine and treatment on Monday. At about 5 p.m. on Friday, staff found him trying to leave the ward and chased him as he left. The patient eventually fled down the stairs without being seen.

The hospital has called the police for help and notified the Center for Health Protection of the incident.