The deadly corona has finally invaded Bihar. Today, the state reported the first death from coronavirus, setting the alarm bells ringing the state. This was in addition to another lady who has been tested positive for Corona.

The victim Saif Ali, a resident of Munger district, had returned from Qatar about a fortnight back and fell sick. On Friday, he was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Patna complaining kidney problems. He didn’t reveal he was infected with Corona but based on his travel history, the doctors collected his blood samples and sent for test at the local Rajendar Memorial Research Institute (RMRI).

In the meanwhile, the patient died on Saturday night after which the doctor handed over his body to his family members unmindful of the fact that the man whom they were handling so carelessly was, in fact, a Corona victim. Hardly had the victim’s family left with his body, then came the report of medical test which confirmed that the man was infected with the deadly Corona. It was then that the whole hospital and the medical staff panicked.

“He died first while his test report came later,” AIIMS superintendent Dr CM Singh told newsmen today. He denied the poor handling of his body would pose health risks to his family claiming the body had been packed in a plastic bag. He said the report came late as the patient’s blood samples were sent at some other place for the test.

Bihar health secretary Sanjay Kumar said the patient was admitted with “kidney failure” problem and died due to “renal failure” but his test report confirms he was also infected with Coronavirus. He said the government was trying to find out his travel history of the past 15 days. He said the government was also collecting the travel history of another Corona patient so as to extensively sanitize the areas in the radius of three kilometres.

“The health workers will knock every door in the radius of three kilometres and sanitise them,” the health secretary said. He said the government was initiating every step to prevent the spread of the disease and advised the people for strictly follow social distancing. The state government has already sealed the 700 km-long porous Indo-Nepal border, stepped up surveillance along the 49 transit points along the border, suspended all bus inter-district and inter-state bus services, shut down shopping malls, educational institutions, movie theatres, zoo and banquet halls till 31 March.