After a span of nearly two years, Visakhapatnam reported its first COVID-19-related death on Tuesday.

The victim, a 51-year-old woman, passed away while undergoing treatment at KGH (King George Hospital) in the early hours of Tuesday.

Following COVID-19 protocols, her body was promptly taken to the Chavulamadum crematorium yard near the Visakhapatnam railway station for cremation.

The woman, a resident of Kancharapalem, initially sought treatment at the Government Chest Hospital for respiratory issues.

Upon testing positive for COVID-19, she was transferred to KGH's dedicated COVID-19 ward, where she succumbed to the illness around 3 am on Tuesday.

In an official statement, KGH superintendent Dr. P. Ashok Kumar explained that the woman had been admitted to the Chest Hospital on December 22 with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Acute Kidney Failure, and Multi Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS).

A routine COVID-19 test revealed a positive result, leading to her transfer to KGH on December 24 for further management and dialysis.

Despite the hospital's best efforts, the patient's health deteriorated, and she was declared dead on December 26 at 3 am.

Dr. Ashok emphasized that the death was primarily attributed to the patient's pre-existing conditions, and COVID-19 was a contributing factor.

KGH is prepared to handle health emergencies, and Dr. Ashok urged the public to adhere to COVID-19 protocols without panicking.