India records 1st Covid death
76-year-old Saudi returnee was in Hyderabad for two days
Mohammad Hussein Siddiqui, who died in Kalaburgi in Karnataka on Wednesday, has now been officially declared as the first Coronavirus victim to succumb to the disease in India, with health department officials on Thursday confirming he was tested positive for
Covid-19.
Soon after the Karnataka state health department confirmed that the
76-year-old religious leader was a positive case of
Covid-19, B. Sriramulu, minister, health and family welfare, tweeted that the Karnataka government had made necessary contact tracing, isolation and other measures as per protocol.
The Telangana government has been informed, since the deceased was admitted to a private hospital in Hyderabad, officials here said.
Soon after his death, the last rites were conducted under strict medical supervision and monitored by the district health and family welfare officials at Kalaburgi.
Siddiqui was admitted to a hospital, following complaints of cough due to viral pneumonia after his return from Saudi Arabia. Siddiqui had gone to Saudi Arabia on January
29 and returned a month later.
Officials said the patient had severe co-morbidities, such as a history of hypertension, diabetes and asthma and appendicitis.
On his return from Saudi, he was down with fever and took treatment at a private hospital. He was at first admitted to a hospital in Kalaburagi, following complaints of cough and other symptoms. Later, on advice of doctors and family, he had gone to Hyderabad, officials said.
Doctors screened him for suspected Coronavirus,
a couple of days back.
He, however, did not respond to the treatment and died on Tuesday night at around 11 pm.
A senior health department official said that he man died on the way back from Hyderabad around 11 pm on Tuesday.
“God has been kind. We have not reached the stage of community transmission, so no need to panic,” said Lav Aggarwal, joint secretary in the Union Health Ministry, even as Covid19 positive cases reached
74 in India on Thursday. With over 1,18,000 coronavirus cases across 114 countries, WHO has declared Covid-19 as a pandemic.
But the government maintained that the situation is well under control and that health agencies were monitoring over 3,000 persons who came in contact with the infected. “There is no instance of any community transmission and the positive cases relate only to local transmission,” Aggarwal said, adding that all positive cases are stable.
The government also said there is no need for panic buying of masks “as not all people need to wear them”. The Centre has directed chief secretaries of states to check against the hoarding of masks and hand sanitizers.
According to ministry officials, 52 testing centres and 56 collection centres set up by the government are screening people. Officials said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also monitoring the situation with regular meetings. In a tweet, the PM said: “Say No to Panic, Say Yes to Precautions. No Minister of the Central Government will travel abroad in the upcoming days. I urge our countrymen to also avoid nonessential travel. We can break the chain of spread and ensure safety of all by avoiding large gatherings.”
Out of the total positive cases, 57 are Indians, and 17 are foreign nationals (16 from Italy and one from Canada). These include three from Kerala who are cured. In addition, 83 evacuees from Italy who arrived on Wednesday have been quarantined at Manesar.
The Delhi government announced closing of all schools, colleges and cinema halls to prevent large gatherings in the city. All major events in the city are also getting cancelled or postponed and the fate of IPL cricket remains uncertain after government advised BCCI against holding any major sporting event that sees huge gathering of people.
The government has suspended all existing visas (except diplomatic, official, UN/International Organisations, employment, project visas) till April 15. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13 March at the port of departure. Visa-free travel facility granted to OCI card-holders is also being kept in abeyance till April 15. OCI card holders already in India can stay as long as they want while visas of all foreigners already in India remain valid and they can seek extension/conversion of their visa or grant of any consular service.