Published on March 26, 2020
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat recorded yet another death due to Covid-19 infection in less than 15 hours as a 70-year-old man from Bhavnagar was declared dead on Thursday morning. His report had arrived on Thursday morning itself, mentioned state health & family welfare department officials.
Jayanti Ravi, principal secretary (health & family welfare), mentioned on Thursday morning that the patient had co-morbidity such as diabetes, cancer malignancy and heart conditions. He had travel history of Delhi.
“On Wednesday night, a senior citizen woman died at Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad. The woman, who also had co-morbidity including psychological illness, had returned from Saudi Arabia. Her lab test took place on March 14, her hospital admission took place on March 22 and death took place on March 25,” said Ravi. “Her last rites have been performed according to her faith today with all due medical care and guidelines.”
Gujarat had reported the first confirmed Covid-19 death on March 22 when a 67-year-old man from Surat had succumbed to the infection. He had travel history to Delhi and Jaipur.
Ravi said that with four more cases since Wednesday night, the total number of positive cases in Gujarat is 43. The cases include 15 in Ahmedabad, 8 in Vadodara, 7 in Surat, 7 in Gandhinagar, 4 in Rajkot, 1 in Kutch and 1 in Gandhinagar.
The four new cases include one patient each from Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Bhavnagar. Two cases of local transmission whereas one had foreign (the UK) and another had inter-state (Delhi) travel history.
Ravi said that the health department has also launched a state-specific Covid-19 dashboard on gujcovid19.gujarat.gov.in link. “The figures would be updated twice daily. We will also put in more details over the time,” said the health secretary.
In light of the deaths so far, Ravi appealed to the senior citizens in Gujarat to be extra cautious and follow the lockdown guidelines by not venturing out of homes and maintaining social distancing of at least 1 metre.
“Even when you are at home, try to maintain the distance. If you suspect any condition which matches with the symptoms of Covid-19, inform 104 fever helpline. If you have sustained fever and issue in maintaining normal breathing, take medical help from 108 helpline,” said Ravi. “Don’t overlook the symptoms. Timely reporting can save lives,”
The state government officials also said that they are ensuring stock of all daily essentials and appealed to the citizens to stay indoors as much as possible.
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