55-year-old Varanasi trader becomes UP's third Covid-19 casualty

Shailvee Sharda & Rajeev Dixit | TNN | Apr 5, 2020, 20:23 IST

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LUCKNOW/VARANASI: A 55-year-old resident of Varanasi who died on April 3, became the third Covid-19 casualty in Uttar Pradesh after his coronavirus test came positive on Sunday.
“This is the third coronavirus related death in the state,” said principal secretary health and family welfare Amit Mohan Prasad.
“The person was unwell since March 22 and took his symptoms lightly. He went to several private doctors before reaching the Sir Sundar Lal Hospital of BHU where he died on April 3. The infection turned fatal because of the presence of co-morbid conditions including hypertension and diabetes,” Prasad added.
Sharing details about the deceased person, district magistrate Varanasi, Kaushal Raj Sharma said: “The person was a native shop-keeper of gangapur locality in Rohaniya area. He received treatment at two private hospitals before reaching BHU. He returned from Kolkata on March 15 and suffered with cold and flu on March 27.”
Sharma stated that the patient’s sample for coronavirus testing was taken twice. “The first report remained inconclusive. The infection was confirmed in the second report. Before the outcome of the second test could arrive, he passed away.”
Asked to comment on the source of covid-19 infection in the patient, the DM said: "all we know till now is that he had travelled to Kolkata and returned from there on March 15. Investigation is underway." He however ruled out any tablighi connection of the person.
The DM also informed that total curfew in gangapur town was imposed to undertake containment activities. “All 10 members in his family were quarantined and their samples have been sent for testing. Curfew has been imposed in the locality to undertake aggressive containment activities and screen any contacts,” he said.
Health officials also said that the death reminds on the need to stay aware about symptoms of coronavirus. “The death has proven that coronavirus symptoms should not be ignored. The person or his family could have made use of the health department helpline which is being manned by trained persons. I would urge everyone to stay alert against coronavirus,” Prasd said.
The previous deaths related to covid-19 were in Meerut and Basti districts reported on March 29 and March 30. The person who died in Meerut was 72 year old contact of a coronavirus patient who passed on the infection to 16 family members.
The person who died in Basti was 25 year old youth Hasnain Ali who had not been keeping well on account of his renal ailment for the past few months.