A 76-year-old man who died two days ago in Karnataka while being treated for suspected coronavirus has become India’s first COVID-19 fatality with his samples taken earlier confirming the infection, the state government said on Thursday.
State Health Minister B Sriramulu in a tweet said thenecessary contact tracing, isolation and other measures as per protocol werebeing taken.
“The 76 year old man from Kalbauragi who passed away &was a suspected #COVID19 patient has been Confirmed for #COVID19. The necessarycontact tracing, isolation & othermeasures as per protocol are being carried out,” he said.
The man, who recently returned from Saudi Arabia, had diedon Tuesday night.
Officials said the patient had severe co-morbidities such ashistory of hypertension, diabetes and asthma and appendicitis. State JointDirector (Communicable Diseases) B G Prakash Kumar said all protocols werefollowed for disposal of the body.
On his return, he was down with fever and took treatment ata private hospital. Later, on the advice of doctors or family he had gone toHyderabad, the minister had said.Asenior health department official had said the man died on the way back fromHyderabad around 11 pm on Tuesday. The state has already reported fiveconfirmed COVID-19 cases. A 26-year-old man who returned from Greece testedpositive for coronavirus, making it the fifth case, the health department saidon Thursday.