New Delhi: India reported its second casualty due to coronavirus, and Delhi its first, after a 68-year-old woman died in Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital in the national capital. Her son, who had returned to India from abroad, had tested positive for the virus.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in a statement confirmed the death, saying it was caused due to co-morbidity (diabetes and hypertension) and that the patient had tested positive for COVID-19. She was the mother of a person who has been confirmed to be suffering from coronavirus.
She became the second person to die of coronavirus infection in the country after the first death was reported from Karnataka on Thursday. The 76-year-old man from Kalaburgi had died on Tuesday.
The Health Ministry said so far 82 cases have been reported across the country, with seven in Delhi.
In a statement, officials of the Health Ministry and the Delhi government said the patient had a history of contact with a positive case as her son had travelled to Switzerland and Italy between February 5 and February 22, returning to India on February 23.
“He (the son) initially was asymptomatic, but developed fever and cough after one day and reported to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on March 7,” said the statement. “As per protocol, the family was screened and since he and his mother had fever and cough, both were admitted.”
The statement said the woman suffered from diabetes and hypertension. Her sample was collected on March 8. A day later, she was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after her condition worsened and she developed pneumonia. Her sample also tested positive for coronavirus.
Since March 9, the woman exhibited respiratory fluctuations and was provided ventilator support. “However, due to co-morbid conditions, she died on March 13 at RML Hospital, Delhi, as confirmed by the treating physician and medical superintendent,” it added.
Officials said all precautionary measures as per protocol, including screening and quarantine of the contacts in touch with her, have already been taken up by the Ministry of Health and the Delhi government.
Screening ramped up
Addressing reporters on Friday, Health Ministry officials said coronavirus — a pandemic that has infected 1,31,500 people in 116 countries and territories and has killed more than 4,900 — is not a health emergency and there is no need to panic. They said India has evacuated 1,031 people, including from Maldives, US, Madagascar and China.
The Centre has also decided to allow international traffic only through 19 border checkposts out of 37 and continue the suspension of Indo-Bangladesh cross border passenger trains and buses till April 15, or earlier, if so decided. Officials disclosed that 42,000 people across the country are under community surveillance.
While states such as Karnataka, Odisha, Delhi and Bihar went into virtual shutdown mode, the under-pressure BCCI suspended the start of this year's IPL cricket tournament from March 29 to April 15.
A day after the country's first coronavirus death was reported from Kalaburgi in the state, the Karnataka government announced a lockdown of malls, cinema theatres, pubs and night clubs for a week. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa issued instructions to stop all kinds of exhibitions, summer camps, conferences, marriage events and birthday parties.
Aviation watchdog DGCA has asked international airlines to consider waiving ticket cancellation and reschedule charges or look at providing any other incentives.
States which have not reported any cases so far are also on alert.
(With inputs from PTI)
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