Monkeys attack lab assistant, escape with COVID-19 samples

A group of monkeys reportedly attacked a laboratory assistant in Delhi, India and escaped with a number of coronavirus blood samples.

According to local media, the red-faced rhesus macaques snatched Covid-19 blood samples from four patients and fled the facilities near the Meerut Medical College in Delhi.

The Times of India reported that one of the monkeys was later spotted in a tree chewing one of the sample collection kits.

Dr S. K. Garg, a top official at the college, told Reuters:

“Monkeys grabbed and fled with the blood samples of four Covid-19 patients who are undergoing treatment… we had to take their blood samples again.”

He added: “No evidence has been found that monkeys can contract the infection.”

The monkeys are said to be an increasing problem in urban areas of the country, but lockdown measures in the last two months have encouraged the monkeys.

People have been told not to feed the monkeys during the pandemic as a preventative measure against spreading mutated versions of Covid-19.