Second coronavirus death in India

A 68-year-old woman died of coronavirus in New Delhi last night, the Indian government said, in the country's second death linked to the disease.

The woman was the sixth case of coronavirus to be reported from the capital and had other conditions including high blood pressure and diabetes, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

"Death of a 68-year-old female from West Delhi (mother of a positive case of COVID-19) is confirmed to be caused due to co-morbidity (diabetes and hypertension). She had also tested positive for COVID-19," the Indian Health Ministry said in a statement.

The woman had history of contact with a positive case involving her son who had travel history to Switzerland and Italy between February 5 and 22.

The son, who returned to India on February 23, initially did not show symptoms of coronavirus but developed fever and cough after a day and reported to state-owned Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on March 7, the statement said.

As per protocol, the family (of the man) was screened and since he and his mother had fever and cough, both were admitted (to the hospital), according to the statement.

"Her condition worsened on March 9 with development of pneumonia and she was shifted to the intensive care unit. Her swab sample also tested positive for COVID-19. Since March 9, she was having respiratory fluctuations and was provided ventilator support," it said.

"However, due to comorbid conditions, she died on March 13 at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital Hospital, as confirmed by the treating Physician and Medical Superintendent," the Health Ministry statement added.

The woman's death comes on a day when the number of positive coronavirus cases in India rose to 85.

The first death from the virus in India was a 76-year-old man who died in the southern state of Karnataka on Tuesday and his swab samples confirmed coronavirus infection on Thursday.

Warning against mass panic, the Health Ministry, however, said the situation in India so far is "not a health emergency".