COVID-19: Kerala Records Second Death, Health Minister Says No Community Transmission Yet

A 68-year old man in Thiruvananthapuram who had tested positive for COVID-19 died at the Medical College taking the total number of COVID-19 deaths across Kerala to two. The 68-year-old man, a native of Pothancode, died at midnight of March 31, Tuesday, said a release issued by the Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram. 

Since the deceased has no recent travel history, the health workers are yet to find how he had been infected or if he had come in contact with any COVID-19 positive patient. Earlier, the authorities had released the route map and it showed that he attended a wedding and multiple funerals and so on. On March 18, he had developed the symptoms of COVID-19 and was admitted to the Sree Gokulam Medical college. Later on March 23, he was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College. 

The man was suffering from other ailments, including kidney-related diseases along with high blood pressure and thyroid-related issues. The man who was undergoing dialysis was under ventilator support for the last five days. 

The body of the deceased will be buried as per the COVID-19 protocol. 

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Meanwhile, the Kerala government on Tuesday rejected concerns of community spread of COVID-19 in the state in the wake of the second death

Setting aside these concerns, Health Minister K K Shailaja said the deceased man was already suffering from several other health issues including high blood pressure.

"We have got information that the deceased man had come in contact with some persons arrived from the Gulf. As he was very sick and was not in a position to speak, we could not collect details from him directly," she told reporters.

"So we had to collect such details from his relatives. As per preliminary assessment, it was a case of contact spread. So, as of now, there is no need to panic about the community spread," she said.

The possibility of death is high among patients, aged above 60 years and suffering from other diseases like heart ailments or diabetics, she said. "That's why we are giving strict directions to the elderly people to remain in homes and avoid contact with infected persons," the minister said.

The minister further directed those who had come in contact with the deceased person to remain in self-quarantine and inform the authorities if they develop any symptoms. In both the COVID-19 deaths in the state, the deceased persons were aged and were suffering from other diseases, she added.

On Monday, the state reported 32 fresh coronavirus cases, with Kasargod district alone accounting for 17 cases, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Kannur reported 15 cases, while Wayanad and Idukki reported two cases each, he told reporters after a COVID-19 review meeting. Of the 32 cases, 17 had come from abroad and 15 were infected through contact.

The total number of people presently under treatment in the state is 213. At least 1.50 lakh people are under surveillance in the state and 623 people are in isolation wards of various hospitals.

(Inputs from PTI as well) 

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