India records first COVID-19 death

India has recorded first death of coronavirus victim.

This was confirmed after the death of a 76-year-old patient from Kalaburagi in Karnataka, who had returned from Saudi Arabia on 29th February 2020.

His samples were tested positive for the virus and the Health and Family Welfare Department of Karnataka confirmed that the patient had died of COVID-19.

The blood and throat swab samples of the 76-year-old were obtained earlier this week and sent to Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute’s Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory.

The results of the test revealed that the patient was infected with the coronavirus.

“The 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi who passed away and was a suspected COVID-19 patient has been confirmed for COVID-19. The necessary contact tracing, isolation and other measures as per protocol are being carried out. Telangana Govt. has also been informed since he went to a private hospital there, ” the health department said in a statement.

The deceased had left on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia on January 29 and returned to Kalaburagi a month later.

He received medication from March for cough, cold and fever. He was admitted to a private hospital on March 9 due to his condition deteriorating. The family members moved him to a hospital in Hyderabad on medical advice.

However, doctors at the hospital intimated that chances of his survival were narrow due to his advanced age. He was taken back to Kalaburagi in an ambulance but passed away on the way back.

Three family members accompanied the deceased and he was buried in the presence of a doctor as per protocol.

The Karnataka government is speculating assigning one of the existing hospitals in Bengaluru to treat COVID-19 cases, as the state recorded its fifth coronavirus case after a Bengaluru techie tested positive.

“I have had a discussion with department officials today. We will come out with full details in a day or two,” Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar stated, referring to the government’s plans on assigning a dedicated hospital.

“The hospital may have 300 to 400 beds,” the minister added.

India has 73 confirmed cases of the virus, the health ministry says. 18 suspected coronavirus cases and positive patients have been admitted in hospitals across the state: RGICD- 10 cases, other Bengaluru hospitals- 2 cases, Hassan district- 2 cases, Dakshina Kannada district- 2 cases and Ballari district- 1 case. So far, no patient has received treatment for COVID-19 in a private hospital.