Kadapa, 9 July

A 46-year-old man died of Covid-19 here four days after treatment with antibiotics failed to control his symptoms, an official said on Thursday.

Kadapa District Medical & Health Officer Ravi Babu said the deceased was addicted to alcohol and had been admitted to a local hospital for severe breathlessness and cough.

"A 46-year-old man from Masapeta area in Kadapa succumbed to Covid-19. He was an alcoholic. He was suffering from severe breathlessness and cough," Babu told PTI.

An X-ray examination showed that both lungs of the deceased were completely damaged, resulting in pneumonia, the DM&HO said.

The disease did not subside even after four days of high-dose antibiotic treatment, prompting doctors to suspect a coronavirus infection, he said.

A subsequent CT scan of the chest confirmed the Covid-19 infection, Babu said, adding that containment measures — such as sanitisation and the tracing of primary and secondary contacts of the deceased — had been undertaken.