Health officials attributed his death to complications from chronic kidney failure and other existing comorbidities, stating clearly that Covid-19 was not the direct cause.
Published May 29, 2025 | 1:24 PM ⚊ Updated May 29, 2025 | 1:24 PM
Covid death. (Representational image)
Synopsis: On 27 May, Tamil Nadu reported its first Covid-linked death of 2025—a 60-year-old man from Chengalpattu with multiple comorbidities. Though he tested positive for Covid-19, officials confirmed chronic kidney disease as the primary cause. With 69 cases reported this year, health authorities stressed no new variants have emerged, and current infections remain mild, driven by Omicron sub-lineages.
On Tuesday, 27 May, Tamil Nadu has reported its first Covid-19-linked death of 2025, where 69 cases have been recorded so far this year, after a 60-year-old man from Chengalpattu district died while being shifted to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) in Chennai.
The man, a resident of Maraimalai Nagar, had been undergoing treatment for acute gastroenteritis and severe dehydration at the ESI Hospital in KK Nagar, Chennai, since 15 May. He was later diagnosed with Covid-19, which state health officials say was an “accidental finding” and not the primary cause of death.
According to a statement issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department’s Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine on Wednesday, 28 May, the patient had a known case of diabetes, hypertension, and stage four chronic kidney disease. He had been receiving dialysis on alternate days.
“During his stay, he was tested Covid-19 positive on 26 May. The next day, his condition turned critical, and he was referred to RGGGH,” read the official statement. “He was received at RGGGH at 7.30 pm. On arrival, his carotid pulse was absent. He was declared dead subsequently.”
Health officials attributed his death to complications from chronic kidney failure and other existing comorbidities, stating clearly that Covid-19 was not the direct cause. The body was handed over to the Greater Chennai Corporation and buried at Moolakothalam cemetery in accordance with Covid-19 protocols.
Dr T S Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said that 10 to 15 Covid-positive cases are currently being reported daily in Tamil Nadu, but emphasized that no new or virulent variants have been identified.
“Only Omicron and its sub-lineages — JN.1.16.1, LF.7.9, and LF.7.1.2 — are in circulation,” he said, urging the public not to panic. “No one has required in-patient care so far, and the infection is presenting as a mild respiratory illness.”
He added that whole genome sequencing is being routinely carried out in the state. Last month, 26 samples were tested, with 19 sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune. No new variants were found.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Sumit Jha)
