India reported its fourth death from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
The sample of a 72-year-old man, who returned from Germany via Italy on 7 March and died at a hospital in Punjab's Nawanshahr district after severe chest pain, has tested positive for novel coronavirus, senior officials said on Thursday, 19 March.
The person, who had diabetes and hypertension, tested positive after he died at the Banga community health centre on Wednesday, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Director Jagat Ram said.
He had co-morbid conditions like diabetes, cardiac issues, said the Union Health Ministry, as reported by PTI.
"The total number of active COVID-19 cases across India stands at 149 so far," the ministry said. 20 others have recovered, while four have succumbed to the disease.
76-Year-Old From Karnataka Was India’s First COVID-19 Death
On 12th March, India recorded its first COVID-19 death when a 76-year-old man from Kalburgi, Karnataka passed away. The man had travelled from Saudi Arabia on February 29th and shortly after his arrival he had shown symptoms of the disease. He had a history of hypertension and asthma.
The death was confirmed to be from ‘comorbidity’ along with testing positive for the virus. The patient was on his way back from Hyderabad to Kalaburagi, where he passed away. He had started showing symptoms on 6 March.
Country’s Second Death Reported in Delhi
This was followed by a second death on 13 March, of a 68-year-old woman with diabetes and hypertension, mother of a confirmed COVID-19 patient, who passed away at Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.
She was the sixth case to be reported in Delhi. The state’s total now stands at 12, with three recoveries and one death.
64-Year-Old Passes Away in Mumbai
The third death from COVID-19 was of a 64-year-old COVID-19 patient who passed away at Mumbai’s Kasturba hospital, ANI reported.
Municipal Corporation Greater Mumbai shared more details about the patient. "Death of 64-year-old male patient admitted at Kasturba Hospital in confirmed. He has high blood pressure, pneumonia and inflammation of of heart muscles and increased heart rate leading to death. he had tested positive for COVID-19."
Giving more details on the case, Pradeep Vyas, Health Secretary, had this to say:
"We are still finding out the cause of the death. When he was admitted to the hospital, he didn't share his travel history. He was also a patient of hypertension."
The pattern of death in India's third patient has followed the same trajectory with co morbidities plays a role. This has been a trend in most deaths so far. In an earlier analysis on March 4th by Institute of Health, Italy, of the 105 deaths they studied, the mean age of mortality was 81.
You can read about how age, underlying conditions have been major contributors to death, both in India and abroad here.
(With inputs from PTI)
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