India’s 1st Coronavirus Death Confirmed: K’taka Man Had COVID-19

The man had passed away on Wednesday after suffering from cough, cold and breathlessness.

Medical staff members wear masks and protective suits to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, outside the special isolation ward of District Hospital Aluva in Kochi, Thursday, 12 March, 2020. 

(Photo: PTI)

A 76-year-old man, from Karnataka’s Kalburgi, who passed away and was a suspected coronavirus patient, has been confirmed to have had COVID-19, Karnataka Minister for Health B Sriramulu confirmed.

The necessary contact tracing, isolation and other measures as per protocol are being carried out. The Telangana government has also been informed since the man had visited a private hospital there.

He had passed away on Tuesday after suffering from cough, cold and breathlessness. His samples and blood had been taken and sent to the National Institute of Virology, Bangalore.

The body was buried on 10 March itself and protocols have been followed while doing so, Health department officials told The Quint.

From Saudi to Hyderabad

The old man had visited Saudi Arabia from 29 January-29 February. On arrival, he reached back to Hyderabad on 29 February and went to Kalaburgi.

He was a known case of Hypertension and Asthma. While he was asymptomatic on his return, he developed symptoms of fever and cough on 6 March.

One private doctor visited him at his home and treated him there.

He was admitted to the isolation ward at Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS). A few days later, on 9 March, the symptoms got aggravated and he was shifted to a private hospital in Kalburgi. In this private hospital he was provisionally diagnosised as “mid zone Viral Pneumonia” and “suspected COVID-19.”

He was then admitted in a private hospital in Hyderabad and treated.

"Symptomatic treatment was given to him but their family decided to shift to a hospital in Hyderabad. While he was being taken back to Kalburgi, he died in transit," said Sharat B, Deputy Collector, Kalburgi had said.

Earlier, the Health Commissioner had denied reports on Wednesday of the man’s death being connected to the virus.

“It is clarified that the rumours floating in the media regarding the death of a 76 years old man from Kalburgi owing to COVID-19 is false. His sample for COVID-19 has been collected and sent for testing. The media is requested to help the government in creating awareness and not creating panic,” he had said.

(With inputs from PIB)