Second Covid death reported in Himachal

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 5

Himachal on Tuesday reported death due to coronavirus positive death with a 21-year-old youth from Sarkaghat area in Mandi, who was suffering from renal problem, died at Indira Gandhi Medical College here on Tuesday, raising the total positive cases to 42.

He had returned to his village in Sarkaghat with his family from Delhi on May 1 after one month kidney treatment. His sample taken at Ner Chowk medical college has tested positive in the first testing though a second testing will confirm Covid. He had been referred from Ner Chowk to IGMC last night. This is the second coronavirus death in HP as before this a US-returned Tibetan had died at Tanda medical college.

The youth had been referred to Ner Chowk from Sarkaghat after he developed high grade fever and breathing problem. In the night, he was brought to IGMC, Shimla, where he died today around 5.30 pm. Being a chronic renal patient he was highly vulnerable and has tested positive for coronavirus in the first testing.

IGMC’s Medical Superintendent Dr Janakraj doctors, paramedics and other staff involved in treating the 21-year-old at IGMC have been quarantined and wunderg tests on Wednesday.

Deputy commissioner Shimla Amit Kashyap said the district administration would take the body for cremation at Kanlog crematorium on Tuesday.

This is the second Covid-19 from Mandi in the last 24 hours. A 30-year-old youth belonging to Jogindernagar and working in a multinational company in Delhi also tested positive today. He had returned home on April 29. Another 26-year-old girl hailing from Gurdaspur, who had been residing at a labour hostel at Jhad Majri in Baddi, too, tested positive though at her native place, where she returned on April 28. She will be added to the coronavirus cases in Punjab.

The two new cases have come at a time when Himachal was aiming to become coronavirus free. Now the number of total cases has risen to 42.