Bihar reports first Covid-19 death; another woman tests positive

Bihar on Sunday reported its first COVID-19 death as a 38-year-old man with a travel history to Qatar died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Patna, where he was admitted after seeking treatment at PMCH and a hospital in Munger, a government official said.

Another woman, who is suspected to have come in contact with one of her Italy-returned relatives, has also tested positive in the city and is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.

The deceased, a resident of Munger district, was admitted to the hospital on Friday with a kidney ailment, hospital superintendent CM Singh said.

Doctors noticed that he was also suffering from respiratory problems, following which his samples were sent to the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute (RMRI) here.

The man, who was on dialysis, died on Saturday, but his COVID-19 test results from RMRI came only on Sunday morning, Singh said.

The hospital superintendent also said that shortly after his death, the doctors handed over the body to the family members wrapped in a plastic bag.

Asked if his family members stand a chance of contracting the disease, he said, "A person can get infected only when another infected coronavirus patient coughs and sneezes...The transmission cannot happen from the dead body as it was handed over to the family in a plastic bag.

"I did not know that the deceased was Covid-19 positive at the time the body was handed over to his family."