Russia records first coronavirus death
March 19, 2020 02:56 PM
Russia on Thursday registered the first death of a patient infected with the coronavirus, an old woman who had been hospitalised in Moscow.
The 79-year-old, who had tested positive, was hospitalised on March 13 and had several other conditions including diabetes and heart problems, Moscow's coronavirus response headquarters said on social media.
Russia has so far reported 147 cases of the coronavirus.
The unnamed elderly woman was first hospitalised on March 13 and was moved to an isolated hospital room three days later after testing positive for coronavirus, Moscow’s coronavirus headquarters said on its Telegram channel.
Elderly people are among the most at-risk groups for the virus, which can lead to a severe respiratory illness.
The headquarters said she died due to pneumonia and a combination of several other pre-existing health conditions.
“The elderly patient had a number of chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, artery disease and hypertension. The patient was given comprehensive intensive care,” said Svetlana Krasnova, the head physician at Moscow’s Infectious Diseases Hospital No. 2.
Moscow’s coronavirus headquarters said that it has established the patient’s circle of contacts and placed them under medical supervision. None of the patient’s close contacts are showing symptoms of coronavirus infection, it added.