India’s second coronavirus-linked death ..Sick son at home, mom dies

G.S. Mudur, TT, 14.03.20, New Delhi: A 68-year-old Delhi woman infected with the novel coronavirus has died, the Union health ministry said on Friday night, documenting India’s second coronavirus-linked death.

The woman had a history of contact with her son, who had returned to India on February 23 after an 18-day visit to Switzerland and Italy. He had no symptoms on arrival but developed cough and fever after a day. However, he reported to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital only on March 7, the ministry said, where he tested positive.

Health staff who screened the family under standard protocols and found that the mother too had cough and fever admitted both on March 7. The mother, whose condition worsened on March 9 with the development of pneumonia, was moved into intensive care where she died on Friday, the ministry said.

The woman, who had diabetes and high blood pressure and showed respiratory fluctuations, had been provided with ventilator support. But she died because of her underlying conditions, the ministry said.

The ministry’s release suggests that the son who had returned from abroad had approached the RML hospital 12 days after developing symptoms, defying the advisories from health authorities that travellers who develop symptoms should report immediately.

The ministry did not specify whether or what treatment the son had sought during the period between February 24 and March 7, when he had developed symptoms and was likely shedding the virus.

Health officials have stressed that people need to rigorously adhere to the advisories. “Protect yourself, protect your loved ones, protect your community — that is our message,” a health ministry official said on Friday.

A 76-year-old man in Karnataka, who had died earlier this week, was documented as the country’s first coronavirus fatality on Thursday. The man had asthma and high blood pressure.

Both the deaths are in line with patterns observed elsewhere of the disease taking a stormier turn in patients with underlying health conditions.

Officials have not said how many other contacts the son may have had and who are currently under observation by the district disease surveillance authorities. The health ministry has said 4,000 people are under observation nationwide.