HONG KONG (REUTERS) - Hong Kong authorities are searching for a Covid-19 positive patient who escaped one of the city's largest hospitals while undergoing treatment, according to health officials.

The 63-year old man, identified as patient 7379, was admitted to the isolation ward of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Dec 14 after it was confirmed he had Covid-19.

However, the man escaped the hospital ward via a stairwell on Friday (Dec 18) and could not be recaptured. A statement from the hospital said the patient escaped wearing a jacket over hospital clothes.

"Staff spotted that the man was making his way to run away for the ward… Staff chased him but the efforts were in vain," said a hospital spokesman.

It is the first known case of an escape from hospital of a Covid-19 patient.

Hong Kong has recorded 7,970 Covid-19 cases, according to a government website.

Two patients, aged 84 and 85, died in the past two days, a hospital authority statement issued on Friday said.