60-year-old COVID patient, with co-morbidity, dies in Chennai

A COVID patient, who was being treated for renal issues, died on Tuesday (May 27) while being taken to a hospital in an ambulance in Chennai.

He is the first COVID-positive patient, with co-morbidity, who has died after the recent surge in cases.

Dr K Santharam, dean of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, told The Federal that the patient who was undergoing treatment for renal issues at KK Nagar ESIC Hospital, and had tested positive for COVID, died due to renal failure.

Also Read: COVID active cases surge to 1,000-plus in a week; 100 new cases in Delhi

Since the COVID outbreak in the country, Tamil Nadu recorded 38,086 deaths, apart from 36 lakh positive cases. More than 400 testing facilities are monitoring COVID cases in the state.

Genome sequencing being done

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has undertaken Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) of COVID samples after testing at the National Institute of Virology recently. The WGS report showed that the infections were caused by the existing Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 and its sub-lineages.

The samples tested were found to be of the existing Omicron, and its descendant variants, including JN.1.16.1, LF.7.9, and LF.7.1.2 and NB.1.8.1, which are sub-lineages of Omicron. There are no new variants or any virulent strains of COVID.

Dr TS. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, told The Federal that the strains currently in circulation are of Omicron and its sub-variants.

He said that the COVID-positive cases did not require hospitalisation and were mostly non-virulent in nature.

All cases are being monitored, but patients with COVID symptoms, and who have other comorbidities should seek medical help," he added.