Ludhiana woman dies of coronavirus; Punjab toll 3 now

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 30

With another patient succumbing to coronavirus (COVID-19) at Patiala on Monday, the total number of deaths due to the deadly virus has reached to three in Punjab.

Apart from that with three new cases — one each from Ludhiana, Patiala and SAS Nagar, the total number of positive cases in the state has reached 41.

The 42-year-old woman from Ludhiana succumbed to the deadly virus. She was brought to Patiala’s Government Rajindra Hospital with acute respiratory syndrome at 1.30 am on Monday morning. Her samples for the COVID-19 were taken but she died before the report could confirm that she was positive with the infection.

Patiala Civil surgeon Harish Malhotra said her body had been, already, sent to Ludhiana as per the guidelines.

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Meanwhile, a 35-year-old man with a history of Dubai travel tested corona-positive on Monday evening. He had recently returned from Dubai and was a resident of Desi Mehmandari in Patiala old city area.

Malhotra said the patient's initial tests, at Safdarjung Delhi, were negative and had been under quarantine. He said the patient was admitted to the isolation ward last night after symptoms like fever and sore throat appeared. “Teams have been, already, sent to his residence to trace his close contacts and for sanitisation of the area,” Malhotra said.

Another fresh case — a resident of SAS Nagar district — has been reported positive at PGI, Chandigarh. It is worrisome for the health authorities as the patient didn’t have any travel history. Now the health department is trying to trace the source of infection.

As per the state health department, samples of total 1,051 suspected cases were sent for testing out of which 881 were found negative and reports of 129 were still awaited. Total 41 have been found positive. The state has reported three casualities so far.

At present, confirmed 41 cases have been reported from seven districts. This includes 19 from SBS Nagar, seven from Mohali, six cases from Hoshiarpur, five from Jalandhar and two from Ludhiana, one each from Amritsar and Patiala.  No confirmed case has been reported from rest of the 15 districts.

District-wise cases

SBS Nagar                  19

SAS Nagar                  7

Hoshiarpur                6

Jalandhar                   5

Amritsar                     1

Ludhiana                  2

Patiala                       1