2nd COVID19 death in J&K

A 52-year old man from Tangmarg lost battle with COVID19 in the wee hours of Sunday. His death marks the second one in J&K due to the virus.

Dr S Saleem Khan, nodal officer for COVID19 response atGovernment Medical College Srinagar said the patient was shifted from SMHSHospital to Chest Diseases Hospital on Saturday after he tested positive fornovel coronavirus. He said the man, a shopkeeper by profession, was admitted on25 March in a very sick state with hypertension and respiratory distress. Hewas without any travel history or apparent contact with a suspected or positivecase of COVID19. “The treating doctor sought COVID19 testing after he foundbilateral pneumonia,” Dr Khan said.

   

However, the patient became critical soon and lost lifearound 4 am at CD Hospital, he said. Dr Khan refuted reports of the deceasedhaving a liver disorder.

The body of the deceased, Dr Khan said, was handed over tofamily as per the protocol.

Dr Sumir Mattoo, director health services Kashmir said thefamily of the deceased has been isolated at GMC Baramulla.

Although the patient had not reported any contact with asuspected or confirmed COVID19 case, health authorities have started contacttracing exercise. A doctor working with DHSK said some people living in thevicinity of the deceased had travelled back from Saudi Arabia and had met him afew days prior to his getting sick. “We are taking samples of those contacts aswell,” the doctor said.

This death marks the second casualty due to COVID19 inJ&K. The first death took place on 26 March at the same hospital of anelderly man who had travelled to Delhi and UP recently.

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