Most COVID-19 deaths in Karnataka occur due to delay in reaching hospitals: Munish Moudgil, chief of COVID-19 War Room

Most COVID-19 deaths in Karnataka occur when infected elderly people, those with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) or any other symptoms delay reaching designated hospitals, a top official said.

Munish Moudgil, chief of COVID-19 War Room in the state, said most of those infected with the virus is brought to COVID-19 designated hospitals at a very late stage and recovery then becomes extremely tough.

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He said that about 65 percent of deceased patients are those who suffer from SARI and are aged above 60. The death rate due to SARI is 43 percent for those in the 40-60 age group, he said, releasing data on coronavirus deaths, to reporters. In the same age group, the mortality due to Influenza-like Illness (ILI) was 17.4 percent, whereas it is 11.1 percent among people aged above 60.

He also said that 25 percent of symptomatic patients aged above 60 succumb to the virus, while it was 10.7 percent in the 40 -60 age group.

The fatalities among those aged 60 are high even if they are asymptomatic, said Moudgil, who is the secretary in the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms. He said the average number of days spent at these hospitals by those who recovered is about 15 days, compared to 3.5 days for those who died of the virus.

"Hence persons who are elderly and who have comorbidities or who have SARI must reach designated COVID-19 hospitals at the earliest," Moudgil said.

As of date, Karnataka has reported 69 COVID-19 deaths As many as 6,041 people have tested positive for COVID- 19, including 2,862 discharges and 3,108 active cases.