City witnessed its first death from corona after a 71-year-old man died of Covid-19 at the Tata Main Hospital on Saturday. The deceased patient was a resident of Khuntadih in Sonari and was admitted at the Tata Main Hospital’s Covid ward two days ago.

East Singhbhum district civil surgeon, RN Jha confirmed about the death of the elderly man and said that he died at the Tata Main Hospital’s Covid ward at about 1 pm.

“ The city witnessed its first death. The deceased had no travel history; he was suffering from a number of chronic diseases since the past two years. After he had shown some signs of getting infected with the Coronavirus, he had been subjected to a swab test for the Coronavirus, which came out positive.  Soon after he was admitted at the Tata Main Hospital’s Covid ward on Friday,” said Jha.

He said that the administration has also set up a containment zone surrounding his house located close to RMS School in Khuntadih immediately.

The civil surgeon informed the body will not be handed over to the family members and would be disposed off as the protocol by the civic body, Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC).

Officials of JNAC informed that the civic body would get the body disposed of at Subernarekha Ghat and no one from the deceased’s family will be allowed to attend the cremation. The body has been kept at the hospital morgue. After the concerned family members complete the paperwork at the Covid ward, it will be disposed off,” said the official.

The number of Covid-19 cases continues to rise in the steel city, presently leaving no locality unaffected, thus making the total number of Covid-19 cases in the city to 265 and 466 across the East Singhbhum district.

Today, the Tata Steel Utilities and Infrastructure Services Limited (TSUISL) formerly JUSCO, billing section was sealed after one of its officials tested positive on Friday night.

“We have kept the billing section closed from 7 am today after one of the staff at the billing section has been tested positive.  The infected staff member is a middle-aged woman and stays at Kadma,” said TSUISL official. 

By Friday night, 16 new cases came up, adding the total number of cases to 466.  Whereas 15 of the fresh cases were from the city limit, including that of posh Bistupur locality, only one case was reported from Potka block in the East Singhbhum district.

The Kolhan Division which was under green zone, came under coronavirus map with two persons testing positive at Chakulia, under East Singhbhum district on May 12. Several other persons tested positive have travel history from Maharashtra, Delhi, Gurugram and Chennai. They had arrived in the city and were staying in quarantine centres in different parts. All the positive cases have been shifted to Tata Main Hospital Covid wing.