Admitted for kidney ailment, 70-YO dies of suspected Covid in Vizag

Visakhapatnam: A 70-year-old man seemingly has become the first casualty of the COVID 19 in the Vizag city.

The man, who was admitted to King George Hospital (KGH) for Kidney ailment on Thursday died on Friday morning.

The death would be the first in the Vizag region due to the Covid-19, if the state-level committee headed by Director of Medical Education (DME) confirms the cause of death.

Principal of Andhra Medical College (AMC) PV Sudhakar said the 70-year-old-man from Chengalraopeta area was admitted to KGH for kidney ailment on Thursday evening and he died of renal failure “We had collected throat and a nasal swab from the man at the time of his admission,” Sudhakar said.

The body was handed over to the family members and it was cremated on Friday.

Sources said that his test reports have come back positive sending the district administration in a tizzy. A team rushed to the deceased’s home and collected key information about the ailment and his travel history. All the family members and neighbors were immediately put under isolation in the VIMS hospital.

The district administration has decided to send the case history of the deceased to the nine-member committee, which will ascertain the exact cause of the death.

Meanwhile, two more people were tested positive for coronavirus. Of the two, one was reported from Dandu Bazaar area in Vizag city.

Barring Vizianagaram district, North Andhra Pradesh so far reported 30 Covid-19 cases, including 25 cases in Vizag and five in Srikakulam district. Of these, 20 patients recovered and were discharged from the hospital.