Mumbai man first COVID-19 fatality in Maha, India toll 3

A 64-year-old man from Mumbai with a travel history to Dubai on Tuesday became the first victim of novel coronavirus infection from Maharashtra, which has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country, a senior civic official said.

IMAGE: A medic and security person wearing mask in view of coronavirus pandemic are seen inside an isolation ward. Photograph: PTI Photo

This is the third COVID-19 fatality in the country.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi said the deceased, who was admitted in civic-run Kasturba Hospital, was suffering from other health issues as well.

"The patient had hypertension and severe pneumonia. Suddenly, his heart rate went very high before he died," he said.

Pardeshi clarified that it would be incorrect to say that the deceased died solely because of COVID-19 infection.

The deceased was a resident of suburban Ghatkopar and he had a travel history to Dubai.

He was first admitted in Hinduja hospital in Mumbai on March 13, before shifted to Kasturba Hospital the next day.

According to sources, some of the close relatives of the man and staff at the Hinduja hospital had been isolated earlier.

At 38, Maharashtra has reported the maximum number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

However, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said the exact cause behind the death of the 64-year-old is being ascertained as the deceased was also suffering from various ailments.

"We are yet to ascertain whether the 63-year-old man who had returned from Dubai died due to COVID-19 infection or because of pre-existing ailments," Tope told reporters.

The minister said the man had returned to Mumbai on March 5, and was admitted to a private hospital after he complained of ill health.

"He was having difficulty in breathing, prompting Health officials to shift him to the civic-run Kasturba Hospital," the minister said.

The hospital is a nodal facility with dedicated staff for admitting suspected novel coronavirus patients.

"The man was responding well to medication but died around 7 am," Tope said.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Public Health department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said the 'patient who was tested positive for Covid-19 had high blood pressure, pneumonia and inflammation of hearth muscles'.

"Increased heart rate led to his death," it stated.