74-yr-old woman first Covid fatality of Panchkula

Amit Bathla

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, July 2

A 74-year-old woman from Panchkula died of Covid-19 at Alchemist Hospital in Sector 21 here last night, making her the first person to have died of the disease in the district. The victim’s son has accused the hospital of negligence.

Patient had comorbidities

“The patient was also suffering from diabetes and had undergone a coronary bypass surgery in 2015. Despite all efforts, her condition deteriorated on Wednesday night and she breathed her last at 10.55 pm,” said Dr PS Mann, operations head of the Sector 21 hospital.

He said: “My mother was admitted to the hospital for the past over 20 days before she developed Covid-19 symptoms. For the first five days, she was in the ICU. Later, she was shifted to a general ward. She might have contracted the virus at the hospital, maybe from the staff.”

She was admitted to the isolation ward of the hospital on June 25 after she complained of breathlessness. She tested positive for Covid-19 on June 30. She was undergoing dialysis twice a week for long.

Taking all precautions, says hospital

“In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the hospital management is taking all necessary precautions. All high-risk patients are being tested for Covid. We ensure proper sanitisation and fumigation at the hospital,” said the hospital in a statement.

Show-cause notice to hospital: DC

Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Ahuja said the Health Department had issued a show-cause notice to the hospital, seeking a reply within 48 hours.

Panel’s findings

• A hospital infection control committee, formed by the Civil Surgeon to determine the spread of Covid-19 at the hospital, submitted its report on Wednesday evening.
• On the basis of the committee’s suggestions, the Civil Surgeon has asked the hospital to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.