Kerala records first Covid 19 death

Thiruvananthapuram: The first COVID-19 death has been reported from Kerala, said a State Minister here on Saturday.

State Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunilkumar told the media that the 69-year-old man had arrived from UAE on March 22 and was in isolation.

"He is from Kochi and was suffering from heart ailment and blood pressure. Since he was already placed under high-risk category, this need not be a cause to worry. The body has now been handed over to his relatives and the funeral will take place later today. There is no need for any undue anxiety at all," said Sunilkumar.

"All those who came in contact with him have been identified and have been quarantined," added the State Minister.

The deceased's wife and driver who brought him from the airport have also tested positive. The deceased had shown symptoms of pneumonia and was under treatment for cardiac condition and hypertension.

State IMA official Sreejith Nair said that underlying heart ailments in coronavirus positive patients is considered to be a high-risk case.

"The need of the hour is, all those with underlying ailments have to ensure that they remain at home as they are high-risk cases," said Nair.

Ernakulam Lok Sabha member Hibi Eden said all the tight medical protocols were being enforced when the funeral takes place.

As of Saturday, there are 164 coronavirus positive cases which have now affected all 14 districts in the state.

There are 1,10,299 people in the state who are under observation which includes 616 admitted to various hospitals.