GANGTOK, July 26 - Sikkim today reported its first COVID-19 death with a 73-year-old man with comorbidities succumbing to the infection at the STNM Hospital here.
The deceased has been identified as Ghanashyam Pradhan from Rongli area of East Sikkim. He was a retired headmaster of Government High School at Rongli and was popularly known as �GS sir�.
He was suffering from chronic diabetes and hypertension. He was tested positive for COVID-19 at a hospital at Rongli yesterday and immediately shifted to the STNM Hospital where he breathed his last this morning.
Director General-cum-Secretary, Health, Dr Pema T Bhutia said the last rites of the patient will be performed as per the standard operating procedure (SOP) laid down by the Gangtok Municipal Corporation.
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said he was �deeply saddened� by the death of the COVID-19 patient.
�My heart goes out to his family and friends, and I pray God to give them strength to bear the great personal loss,� Tamang said. SDF supremo Pawan Chamling also expressed his condolence to the bereaved family.
A PTI report from Gangtok adds: The Sikkim Government has extended the statewide lockdown till August 1 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. A complete six-day lockdown was scheduled to end on Sunday.
�After careful consideration of the situation, it has been decided to extend the period of lockdown in the entire State of Sikkim till 6 am of August 1, 2020,� a notification issued by Chief Secretary SC Gupta said.
