Italian COVID-19 patient, who was cured, dies

Jaipur: The Italian COVID-19 patient, Andrey Carly (69 years), who tested negative in Rajasthan after being given medical treatment here, died on Friday due to heart attack, confirmed health officials here on Friday.

Andrey was admitted in the isolation ward of the SMS hospital on February 29 and on March 2, Andrey's report came out positive for corona infection.

He was successfully cured and his samples tested negative on March 14.

Soon after reports of a corona infection came out negative, Andrey's wife sought permission from the Italian Embassy to shift him at the Fortis Hospital in Jaipur and thereafter, he was shifted to the Fortis Hospital on March 15. However, he did not show much improvement here. He was on the Life Support System and had infections in his lungs too.

Also Read: Coronavirus: PM Modi Calls For Daylong ‘Janata Curfew’ On March 22

Andrey was part of the same tourist group in Italy who came with 16 people and were found to be COVID-19 positive. Andrey Carly'wife was also found coronavirus positive.

However, her report came negative after undertaking medical treatment. She too was kept in the isolation ward of the hospital.

Meanwhile, the total number of positive coronavirus cases in India reached 206 on Friday.

The ICMR in its release said that "A total of 206 individuals have been confirmed positive among suspected cases and contacts of known positive cases."

A total of 14,376 samples from 13,486 individuals have been tested for SARS-CoV2 as on 20th March 202010 AM IST, revealed the release.

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday said coronavirus infections have not reached the "community-level" and asserted the government is trying to use "good information" in the best manner to deal with the situation.

"We are in touch with everything going on the research front," he said.

The number of coronavirus cases have crossed 190 in India and at least four people have died due to the infection.

The minister told Lok Sabha that there is a well-defined protocol and scientific advice on who needs to be tested for the coronavirus infection.

Measures have been taken for the detailed tracing of contacts and that the ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) is conducting tests, he said.

He also said that the coronavirus infection has not reached "community level".

"We are trying to use good information... for best use of our country," Vardhan said during the Question Hour about the fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

Noting that the government is in regular contact with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the minister said that as per information available, "I don't think there is any need for apprehensions".

The response was to a query by Congress leader Manish Tewari on whether the government would be talking to WHO in order to look into the origin of the coronavirus.

The member also wanted to know whether the coronavirus could be a result of certain scientific experiments that went astray.

"We are in touch with scientists all over the world...ICMR conducting research," he added.

Also Read: PDS Beneficiaries Can Lift 6-Month Quota Of Grains In One Go: Paswan Amid COVID-19 Concerns

On some members wanting to know about facilities for tests of coronavirus, the minister said whatever is being done now are "the perfect scientific advice".

(With IANS & PTI inputs)