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WORLD NEWS Thursday 7 May 2020
3 Russian doctors fall from hospital windows during pandemic

By DARIA LITVINOVA Nepomnyashchaya died
Associated Press May 1 in intensive care.
MOSCOW (AP) — Two Rus- On April 24, Dr. Natalya
sian doctors have died Levedeva sustained fatal
and another was seriously injuries after falling out of
injured in falls from hospital a window in a hospital in
windows after they report- Moscow, where she was
edly came under pressure admitted with suspected
over working conditions in COVID-19. She ran an am-
the coronavirus pandemic. bulance station in Star City,
The exact circumstances Russia's spaceflight training
of the separate incidents in facility just outside Moscow,
the last two weeks remain which reported several
unclear and they are being dozen coronavirus cases in
investigated by police, but April. Levedeva died imme-
they underscore the enor- diately after the fall, which
mous strains that Russian health officials said was an
doctors and nurses have accident. Some media, re-
faced during the outbreak. ports however, suggested
Reports said two of the she was distraught after
doctors had protested their being accused of failing to
working conditions and the protect her staff from get-
third was being blamed ting infected and had killed
after her colleagues con- In this photo taken on Saturday, May 2, 2020, doctors work inside the intensive care unit for people herself because of it.
tracted the virus. infected with the new coronavirus, at a hospital in Moscow, Russia. Associated Press Russia has reported 166,000
Across Russia, doctors have infections and 1,537 virus
decried shortages of pro- ed for COVID-19, breaking of spreading false news na Nepomnyashchaya, deaths, but health officials
tective equipment and several ribs and fracturing about the shortages after acting head of a hospital, in the West have said the
questionable infection con- his skull. In a video posted posting the video and is fell from her fifth-floor of- country was underreport-
trol procedures at dozens earlier on social media by under investigation. He re- fice window right after she ing its infections and fa-
of hospitals, with many say- his colleague, Alexander fused to comment to The had a conference call with talities. There is no official
ing they have been threat- Kosyakin, both complained Associated Press. regional health officials, lo- data on how many Russian
ened with dismissal or even about shortages of protec- It is unclear what caused cal media reported, citing health workers have died
prosecution for going pub- tive gear. In the video, the Shulepov's fall. Some lo- anonymous sources. working on the front lines
lic with their grievances. 37-year-old Shulepov said cal media reports said The reports said Nepom- of the pandemic and Rus-
Hundreds of medical work- he was being forced to fin- he slipped while trying to nyashchaya had argued sia's Health Ministry did not
ers also have gotten infect- ish his shift despite being di- climb from his window for a against converting a ward respond to AP's numerous
ed.Dr. Alexander Shulepov, agnosed with COVID-19. smoke outside, while others in her hospital for corona- requests for comment.
who works on an ambu- But later, local health offi- suggested it was due to the virus patients because of Last week, a group of Rus-
lance crew in the Voronezh cials shared another video pressure for airing his com- severe shortages of protec- sian doctors compiled an
region, 500 kilometers (310 of Shulepov on social me- plaints in public. tive equipment and trained online Memory List of doc-
miles) south of Moscow, fell dia in which he retracted A doctor died from injuries personnel, but she failed tors, nurses and other medi-
from a second-floor win- his earlier complaints, say- she sustained in an April 25 to sway the officials. Kras- cal personnel who died
dow May 2 at a hospital ing he was being emotion- fall in the city of Krasnoyarsk noyarsk health officials de- during the outbreak. The list
where he was being treat- al. Kosyakin was accused in western Siberia. Dr. Yele- nied such a call took place. currently has 111 names.q

Thai elephants, out of work due to coronavirus, trudge home

By BUSABA SIVASOMBOON greener pastures of home. nic minority live and tradi-
and GRANT PECK The foundation supports tionally keep elephants.
Associated Press fundraising appeals to feed Save Elephant's founder,
BANGKOK (AP) — The mil- animals still housed at tour- Saengduean Chailert, said
lions of unemployed in Thai- ist parks, but also believes it the project to bring unem-
land due to the coronavirus is good for them to return to ployed elephants home
include elephants which their natural habitat where was launched in response
depend on the tourist in- they can be more self-suf- to appeals from their own-
dustry to feed their vora- ficient. ers.
cious appetites. With scant The situation is critical. Lon- Her group promotes set-
numbers of foreign visi- don-based World Animal tling elephants where they
tors, commercial elephant Protection says as many can live alongside villagers
camps and sanctuaries as 2,000 tame elephants in sustainable eco-friendly
lack funds for their upkeep are at risk of starvation be- communities. It believes
and have sent more than cause their owners are un- the animals are abused at
100 of the animals trudging able to feed them. many high-profile tourist at- In this Thursday, April 30, 2020, photo provided by Save Elephant
as far as 150 kilometers (95 Since last month, more than tractions. Foundation, a herd of 11 elephants walk with guides during a
miles) back to their homes. 100 of the animals have Sadudee Serichevee owns 150-kilometer (93 mile) journey from Mae Wang to Ban Huay in
The Save Elephant Foun- marched from all over Chi- four elephants in Chiang northern Thailand.
dation in the northern ang Mai to their homeland Mai's Mae Wang district. He Associated Press
province of Chiang Mai of Mae Chaem, which is followed the foundation's
has been promoting the dotted with villages where approach in setting up his Experience park with el- Chaem's Ban Huay Bong,
elephants' return to the members of the Karen eth- own small Karen Elephant ephants brought from Mae his wife's village. q