NE NEW SERVICE
CHENNAI, MARCH 25
A 54-year-old man infected with coronavirus in Madurai on Tuesday passed away, the first death recorded in Tamil Nadu due to the contagion, State Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar said.
The minister said the man had a medical history of prolonged illness with “uncontrolled diabetes”.
#update: Despite our best efforts, the #COVID19 +ve Pt at MDU, #RajajiHospital, passed away few minutes back.He had medical history of prolonged illness with steroid dependent COPD, uncontrolled Diabetes with Hypertension.@MoHFW_INDIA @CMOTamilNadu #Vijayabaskar
— Dr C Vijayabaskar – Say No To Drugs & DMK (@Vijayabaskarofl) March 24, 2020
“Despite our best efforts, the COVID-19 positive patient at MDU, Rajaji Hospital, passed away… he had medical history of prolonged illness with steroid dependent COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), uncontrolled diabetes with hypertension,” the health minister tweeted.
On Tuesday, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state rose to 18 after six more people, including three woman, tested positive for coronavirus.
COVID-19 has claimed 11 lives in the country with authorities reporting one death each in Delhi, the second in the national capital, and Maharashtra on Tuesday and over 500 persons being afflicted by the viral infection.
Fears are also mounting that more could be hit as the global coronavirus toll inches towards 17,000. In his second address to the nation in less than a week on the growing concerns over COVID-19, Modi said the lockdown will be in force from Tuesday midnight, as he announced a Central allocation of Rs 15,000 crore to strengthen the health infrastructure to tackle the disease.
Fears over the spread of the disease have already led the governments in the states and union territories to clamp a lockdown till March 31the date till which road, rail and air services have been suspended. However, freight movement will continue to carry essential commodities across the country, officials said
According to six-page guidelines released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, fair price shops and those dealing with food, groceries, fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, fish and animal fodder will remain open. The guidelines also stipulated that making false claim to get any relief during lockdown may result in imprisonment up to two years.
