40-year-old UP man dies of Covid at Chandigarh's Sector 32 hospital

A 40-year-old man, who had tested positive for Covid, passed away at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, Chandigarh, early on Wednesday morning.

Hospital authorities haven't yet said whether it was the latest JN.1 variant. 

The patient, originally from Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh, had been referred to GMCH from Ludhiana, after testing positive for Covid.

He was admitted to the Covid area of the hospital, where he was kept in isolation. Two ventilators had been set up in anticipation of any emergency care needs.

This is the first confirmed Covid positive case in a health facility in Chandigarh.

GMCH-32 director Dr Ashok Atri had earlier said that all necessary data had been submitted in the required format and that the patient was being closely monitored.

While Dr Atri had initially reassured the public that there was no immediate cause for concern, the patient’s death marks a serious development. Health authorities are now expected to intensify monitoring and response measures to prevent its further spread.