A 46-year-old man from Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, has died after testing positive for COVID-19. He was admitted to CMC Hospital in Vellore last month and died after four days of treatment.
Health officials said both of his lungs were severely damaged. The patient had been kept in isolation, and the health department is now tracing people who came into contact with him. Sanitisation work has also begun in the area.
Following the death, a state-wide review found five new COVID-19 cases in the districts of Kadapa and Tirupati. The Director of Medical Education (DME) has asked government hospitals across the state to submit details on the availability of isolation beds, ICU beds, oxygen supplies, ventilators, medicines, rapid test kits, ambulances and medical staff.
WHO estimated 47 lakh COVID-19 deaths in India
By the end of 2022, India had officially recorded around 530,000 COVID-19 deaths. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that the pandemic may have caused around 47 lakh deaths in the country.
Globally, around 66 to 67 lakh official COVID-19 deaths had been recorded by the end of 2022.
How many COVID-19 variants have emerged so far?
Thousands of COVID-19 variants have been identified since the virus first appeared. The World Health Organisation has classified several major variants, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron. Over time, Omicron has also produced several sub-variants, including JN.1, XFG and NB.1.8.1.
