An Uber driver in London died from COVID-19 after he tried to hide his illness fearing eviction.
Father of two, Rajesh Jayaseelan came to London from India about a decade ago. According to Jayaseelan’s friend Suni Kumar, he died alone at Northwick Park hospital in Harrow on April 11 and starved for several days at his rented living space.
The 44-year-old driver had confessed to his wife that he did not want to leave his room because other residents might realise he had COVID-19 and he would be thrown out.
Jayaseelan’s friend Kumar, an NHS IT worker, said, Jayaseelan’s previous landlord ordered him out in March as he thought the minicab driver would spread the disease to him and his family. This made Jayaseelan wary and hide his condition.
Jayaseelan, the third Uber driver confirmed to have died of the virus in London, had to sleep in his car for several nights.
Kumar added that Jayaseelan had come from poverty and left behind a wife and two young children. He was anxious about contracting the virus and was in touch with Kumar, asking him how to stay safe.
According to a Guardian report, Abdurzak Hadi, another driver who fell seriously ill, said the lack of clear guidelines and protection for minicab drivers left them highly vulnerable.
He was admitted to the Northwick Park Hospital on March 20 due to dehydration, but was discharged after being given intravenous fluids. Kumar said that Jayaseelan was finding it difficult to breathe.
Last month Uber said it would compensate drivers with up to £100 per week for up to 14 days if they were diagnosed with COVID-19, placed in quarantine or asked to self-isolate. He had been worried about catching coronavirus last month and called Kumar asking how to stay safe.
