Third coronavirus death in India as 64-year-old patient dies in Mumbai

A 63-year-old man with a history of foreign travel, passed away in Mumbai on Tuesday, nearly a week after he tested positive for novel coronavirus.

With this, the total deaths in India stand at three due to of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The senior citizen, who hailed from the eastern suburbs of Mumbai, passed away at the quarantine facility of Kasturba Hospital. The patient was initially admitted to Hinduja Hospital and later was shifted to Kasturba Hospital. The patient had not disclosed his history of travel to Dubai when he was initially admitted.

The victim and his wife were part of the 40-member tourist group to Dubai, during the last week of February. His wife, who is also COVID-19 positive, is stable.

The Union Health Ministry in a statement on the Maharashtra death, said, "The patient had a travel history to Dubai, which he reportedly did not disclose at the time of his admission to the private hospital." It was only after the husband-wife tested positive there was an alarm. By that time, there were over 80 contacts within the hospital and around a dozen in the couple's housing society and relatives.

"The patient had high blood pressure, pneumonia and inflammation of heart muscles and increased heart rate leading to death. He had tested positive for COVID-19," said the EPID cell of Kasturba Hospital.

"The patient arrived from Dubai on 5 March, he got admitted in private hospital two days later and thereafter shifted to Kasturba Hospital. He passed away at 7 am," Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said.

As of now, Maharashtra has 40 COVID-19 positive patients in hospitals, of which eight are in Mumbai. Nearly one-third COVID-19 positive cases of India are in Maharashtra.

Earlier in the day, Tope reviewed the situation in Mumbai and later briefed the Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

As the spread of COVID-19 widened, the Maharashtra government has decided to procure rooms from hotels and guest houses near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for quarantine arriving passengers. However, those quarantined would have to pay the charges for the quarantine stay. This is for those who would not be preferring home-quarantine.

The Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation has decided to requisitioned 240-odd rooms. Mumbai's municipal commissioner Praveen Pardeshi, an officer of the rank of additional chief secretary, has issued the order asking addition municipal commissioner (eastern suburbs) and assistant commissioners of wards to negotiate the rates with hotel management.
As per the plan, 20 rooms will be procured from Miraj (Maidson Group), 100 from ITC Maratha, 70 rooms form PWD guest house at Andheri and 50 from Niranta Airport Transit Hotel.
These rooms have to be designated as quarantine, he said. Others needing quarantine will be sent to Seven Hills Hospital. The BMC has also urged to adopt the work-from-home policy.

Last week, two other deaths have been reported, a 76-year-old senior citizen in Kalburgi and a 68-year-old woman from Delhi.