35-yr-old dies of Covid in Kolkata, docs say don't drop guard

KOLKATA: A woman from Amdanga in North 24 Parganas succumbed to Covid at the Infectious Diseases & Beleghata General Hospital on Saturday, six days after the state had rec-orded its last Covid death on May 29. The 35-year-old wom-an was on ventilation for 13 days at a nursing home in Bag-uiati before being referred to the ID hospital on June 2.
Before May 29, Bengal had no Covid death for 23 days since May 6 - the longest period without a life lost to the virus since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. Two deaths in six days assumes significance in the wake of a spurt in cases in other states, say doctors.
"Even though Covid remains benign and barely distinguishable from other viruses, these deaths point at the fact that stray cases could get severe. If the virus continues to spread, we will get severe cases more frequently. So, the goal should be to check the spread immediately and watch out for symptoms. Those with severe symptoms should get tested and seek medical help," said Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education & Research professor Diptendra Sarkar.
According to ID hospital sources, the woman who died on Saturday had severe symptoms, including breathing distress when she was transferred from the nursing home. "She was already on ventilator and her condition was very serious. Despite all our efforts she survived just two days here," said a hospital representative. The hospital currently has three other Covid patients.