Tamil Nadu registers first coronavirus death as 54-year old man dies

The patient had a medical history of prolonged illness with uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension. Covid-19 patients with comorbidity are at high-risk conditions.

File image of medical staff wearing masks and protective suits outside an isolation ward in Kochi, Kerala | PTI

Madurai: A 54-year-old man infected with the coronavirus died at a hospital here in the early hours of Wednesday, Tamil Nadu’s first recorded death due to the disease, state Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said.

The man had a medical history of prolonged illness with uncontrolled diabetes.

“Despite our best efforts, the COVID19 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.

The minister also cautioned that COVID-19 with co-morbidity is a high risk condition.

“Having known the impact of virus infections, I’ve been telling in my press meets that COVID19 with co-morbidity like uncontrollable diabetes & hypertension, immunosuppression are high risk conditions. If anyone in ur family has such conditions be extra cautious,pls,” he added in another tweet.