Pune woman’s death due to COVID-19 puzzles authorities

Mumbai: A 60-year-old woman from Pune who tested negative for coronavirus died three days after being discharged. Her sample on Sunday tested positive.

The woman, who had several other health issues, was at first tested at Pune’s Naidu Hospital on April 1. Her report was negative and she was discharged. However, on April 4, she was rushed to Sassoon Hospital in Pune, where she died even before admission. When her sample was tested again, it turned out to be positive.

Pune divisional commissioner Deepak Mhaisekar said more details of the woman’s case have been sought from health officials. Pune collector Naval Kishore Ram said the case would be studied. “It might be possible that the disease was under incubation or she was having a lesser viral load when tested. We are checking her profile. We are trying to find out what happened when she was at home.”


Neelam Singh, a general physician said it was worrying but said the virus can impact different people in different ways. “She had comorbidities and was a senior citizen, so the virus could have affected her differently than say a younger person with no other health issues.”