Assam Reports First Death Due To Novel Coronavirus, 65-Year-Old Man With Travel History To Saudi Arabia Dies

Assam reported its first death due to novel coronavirus on Friday (10 April) even as the state's total positive cases went up to 29, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The first corona death of Assam, also the first in the northeastern region, was reported from the Hailakandi district in its southern part.

"Faijul Haque Barbhyan, 65, from Hailakandi district expired a few minutes ago at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital due to COVID-19. My deep condolences and prayers for the bereaved family," Sarma said in a tweet.

Barbhyan's swab sample had tested positive on Tuesday (7 April). He had travel history to Saudi Arabia. He returned to his home recently via Delhi.

According to Silchar hospital's officials, the patient, a former employee of Madrassa Education, had turned critical on Thursday (9 April) and was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit.

Of the total 34 positive cases in five northeastern states -- Assam (29), Manipur (2), Mizoram (1), Arunachal Pradesh (1) and Tripura (1) -- 28 took part in a Tablighi Jamaat meet in Delhi last month. A Manipuri woman and a Mizoram man tested positive last month after they returned from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands respectively.

A 52-year-old trader in Assam's Kamrup (Metro) district has also tested positive for coronavirus.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)