The Karnataka government on Thursday confirmed India’s first coronavirus death. A 76-year-old man died on Tuesday in Karnataka while being treated for suspected COVID-19. His samples were taken earlier confirming the infection.
India’s first COVID-19 death
According to the sources, the 76-year old man was from Kalburgi and was a suspected coronavirus patient. His name was Mohammed Hussain Siddiq and he was being treated at a hospital in Kalaburagi for showing symptoms.
It is said that as he returned, he was down with fever, breathlessness, cold and cough. He was treated at a private hospital. Later, on the advice of doctors or family, he had gone to Hyderabad. After landing in Hyderabad, he went to Kalaburagi. The patient was known to have hypertension and asthma and had developed symptoms on 6 March.
Following processing, Siddiq failed to receive the treatment and died on Tuesday night on his way back from Hyderabad to Kalaburagi, about 575 km from Bengaluru.
The center confirms
Meanwhile, the center confirmed the cause of death due to Coronavirus after the testing results showed positive.
Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu, in a tweet, said the necessary contact tracing, isolation and other measures as per protocol were being taken.
“The 76-year-old man from Kalbauragi who passed away & was a suspected #COVID19 patient has been Confirmed for #COVID19. The necessary contact tracing, isolation & other measures as per protocol are being carried out,” he said.
The 76 year old man from Kalburgi who passed away & was a suspected #COVID19 patient has been Confirmed for #COVID19. The necessary contact tracing, isolation & other measures as per protocol are being carried out.
— B Sriramulu (@sriramulubjp) March 12, 2020
The Union Health Ministry, yesterday had said that a total of 78 persons are now infected in India by the new virus while three persons have been cured and discharged. A rising case in the country, India has suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15. The government has also “strongly advised” Indians to avoid all non-essential travel abroad. A visa-free travel facility granted to Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cardholders is also kept in abeyance till April 15.
