Maharashtra health minister says exact cause of COVID 19 death is being ascertained

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Tuesday said exact cause behind death of a 63-year-old man from Mumbai, who is suspected to have died of COVID-19, is being ascertained as deceased was also suffering from various ailments. Tope's statement came after it was widely reported this morning that a man from suburban Ghatkopar in Mumbai having a travel history to Dubai has become first death of vel coronavirus infection in Maharashtra. "We are yet to ascertain wher 63-year-old man who had returned from Dubai died due to COVID-19 infection or because of pre-existing ailments," Tope told reporters.

minister said man had returned to Mumbai on March 5 and was admitted to a private hospital after he complained of ill health. hospital is a dal facility with dedicated staff for admitting suspected vel coronavirus patients."He was having difficulty in breathing, prompting Health officials to shift him to civic-run Kasturba Hospital," minister said. " man was responding well to medication but died around 7 am," Tope said.

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Meanwhile, a statement issued by Public Health department of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said "patient who was tested positive for Covid-19 had high blood pressure, pneumonia and inflammation of hearth muscles". "Increased heart rate led to his death. patient had hypertension and severe pneumonia. Suddenly, his heart rate went very high before he died," it stated.

63-year-old was admitted in Kasturba Hospital on March 12, it added. Earlier, confirming death, BMC Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi had said, Pardeshi also added that it would be incorrect to say that deceased died solely because of COVID-19 infection. As on Monday, Maharashtra reported highest number of COVID-19 cases in country at 39.

READ: India Witnesses Third Coronavirus Death; 64-year-old Passes Away In Mumbai

Coronavirus outbreak

As of date, total number of positive cases in India has soared over 130, including 17 foreign nationals. maximum cases of virus have been reported in Maharashtra and Kerala. Centre has “strongly advised” Indians to avoid all n-essential travel abroad. government is also monitoring all suspected cases and has issued preventive advisories. Earlier on Saturday, Central government decided to treat deadly virus as a "tified disaster", and has since issued even more advisories and travel restrictions.

(inputs from PTI)

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