Man with comorbidities dies of Covid-19 in Pondy

PUDUCHERRY: The Union territory of Puducherry reported a Covid-19 death after about eight months on Wednesday.

Director (health and family welfare services) Dr G Sriramalu said a 58-year-old man with comorbidities was admitted to TB and Chest Diseases Hospital in Gorimedu on December 19 with symptoms of Covid-19 infection. His swab samples were collected for Covid-19 tests on December 25.

The test results returned positive for Covid-19 infection on Tuesday. The patient died on Wednesday. "A chronic alcoholic with comorbidities was admitted with Covid-19 symptoms. He tested positive for Covid-19 infection. The patient with hyponatremia has other comorbidities. He had a broken femur too. His health condition deteriorated, and he died on Wednesday," said Dr Sriramalu. The directorate of health and family welfare services said presently six patients, who tested positive for Covid-19 infection, are under home isolation and treatment. The directorate has proposed to increase the number of Covid-19 tests.

A 35-year-old woman from Karaikal was the last Covid death in the UT before the death of the 58-year-old man on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, four Covid-19 patients were carrying the JN.1.1 variant, according to reports the state received from the National Institute of Virology in Pune. However, nearly 80% of the samples turned out to be the pre-existing Omicron subvariant XBB, health minister Ma Subramanian said on Wednesday.

The state sent samples of 56 Covid-19 patients to NIV for whole genome sequencing. The results of 30 patients have arrived, officials said. It showed that 24 patients carried the XBB variant, 2 patients had BA.1, and four people had the new subvariant JN.1.1. While results of other samples are expected soon, the state lab has also tested samples of 71 patients, health department officials said. On Wednesday, the number of people tested positive for the viral infection rose to 38 taking the active cases tally to 158 from 135 on Tuesday.

Chennai had 80 active patients followed by 15 in Chengalpet, seven in Tiruvallur, and six each in Salem, Vellore and Kancheepuram.