Guwahati/Silchar, April 10 Assam reported its first death due to novel coronavirus on Friday even as the five samples of state's existing 28 positive cases tested negative in the last checks, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The first corona death of Assam, also the first in the northeastern region, was reported from Hailakandi district in its southern part.
"Faijul Haque Barbhyan, 65, from Hailakandi district died at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) early on Friday due to COVID-19. My deep condolences and prayers for the bereaved family," Sarma said in a tweet.
Barbhyan's swab sample had tested positive on Tuesday and he was immediately admitted to the SMCH. He had travel history to Saudi Arabia. He returned to his home recently via Delhi.
According to Silchar hospital's officials, the condition of the patient, a former employee of Madrassa Education, had turned critical on Thursday and was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit.
Hailakandi district's Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli told the media that after the performance of "namaz-e-janaza" (Muslim ritual before burial) Barbhyan's body with an airtight three-layered plastic bag was disinfected and taken to a burial ground 10 km from the Hailakandi city and buried there in the presence of his close relatives and a Muslim Imam.
After one death, of the total 33 positive cases in five northeastern states Assam (28), Manipur (2), Mizoram (1), Arunachal Pradesh (1) and Tripura (1) 28 took part in a Tablighi Jamaat meet in Delhi last month.
A Manipuri woman and a Mizoram man tested positive last month after they returned from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands respectively.
A 52-year-old trader in Assam's Kamrup (Metro) district has also tested positive for coronavirus.
Assam Health Minister Himanta Sarma while addressing media in Guwahati on Friday said that as a public health safety measure, the state government has declared Athgaon Kabristhan Masjid in Guwahati as "self containment zone" and sealed it for 14 days.
After returning from Nizamuddin Markaz event in Delhi, eight people stayed there and on March 12 held a congregation in the presence of at lease 100 people. Three of them have so far tested positive for COVID-19.
( With inputs from IANS )