BHUBANESWAR: COVID-19 claimed its second life in the state on Wednesday even as the State faces a continued surge in Covid-19 cases fuelled by West Bengal and Surat returnees. The 77-year-old man, a resident of Madhusudan Nagar in Bhubaneswar had tested positive on April 28. The patient (No. 119) had underlying comorbidities of hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease.

He succumbed while undergoing treatment at KIMS Covid Hospital. Technical spokesperson of Health and Family Welfare department Prof Jayanta Panda said, “He was being treated in the ICU and put on the ventilator since April 30. But he could not be saved.” The deceased was a close contact of a previous patient (No. 41). He had tested negative during his first test on April 9. Although he was in home quarantine since then, his samples were collected after he developed symptoms. He was in a Government quarantine from April 11 to 20 and then in home quarantine from April 21 to 27.

But surprisingly, he was not tested before his release from the Government quarantine. Of the 47 positive cases recorded in Bhubaneswar so far, two persons have died and 30 others recovered. The city had reported its first death on April 6 when a 72-year-old resident of Jharpada area had succumbed to the virus. However, the 45-year-old Patient No. 41 has recovered. Official sources said his relative’s body will be disposed of as per the protocol of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Meanwhile, the State has reported nine more positive cases in the last 24 hours taking the total number to 185. Among the new cases, four, including three from one family, have been reported from Jagatsinghpur, two from Jajpur and one each from Ganjam, Balasore and Kendrapara. With the four cases from Naugaon block, Jagatsinghpur became 17th district to report the virus.

All the four and a teenager from Ganjam had recently returned from Surat. The affected in Jajpur, Balasore and Kendrapara are returnees from West Bengal. Jajpur has highest 55 cases, followed by Khurda (47), Balasore (25), Bhadrak (21) and Sundargarh (12). There is a spurt in cases in coastal districts following return of migrants from virushit states.

J’singhpur Covid-zoned as four test positive
Jagatsinghpur district lost its green zone tag with four Surat returnees testing positive.

Sundargarh reports 12th +ve case
Sundargarh reported its 12th Covid-19 positive case even as lockdown restrictions were eased in many parts of the district.

Cases rise to 4 in Ganjam
An 18-year-old male, who had returned from Surat tested positive. With this, the total number of positive cases rose to four in the district.