One more COVID death in Kerala, excise driver dies in Kannur, death toll climbs to 21

PARIYARAM: One more COVID-19 death in Kerala. An excise driver who was undergoing treatment in Kannur died Thursday morning. The dead identified as Sunil Kumar (28), native of Padiyoor, died at the Pariyaram Govt Medical College. With this, the death toll in Kerala has touched 21.

Sunil Kumar was admitted at Pariyaram Medical College three days back. He developed many diseases including pneumonia. He was in a very critical condition from yesterday evening. An expert team had examined him this morning but his life could not be saved.

He was an employee of Mattannoor Excise Office. The office was closed and 18 of its employees were in quarantine after he was confirmed of the virus. There is no indication that he had any diseases earlier.

It is not clear from where he had contracted the disease. He had taken an accused arrested for smuggling drugs from Karnataka, to Kannur District Hospital for a medical examination. He may have contracted the disease from the accused or from the hospital. A probe is on find the source.