Goa's first COVID-19 death: Health dept to conduct final rites

Panaji, Jun 22 () Hours after a 85-year-old man became Goa's first COVID-19 victim, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the body would not be handed over to kin and the final rites will be conducted by government authorities.

He said the man, who died at Margao's ESI Hospital, was a resident of Sattari taluka's Morlem village, which has already been declared a containment zone.

"The body will not be handed over to the family. The state health department will conduct the final rites as per laid down protocol," he said.

"The man who died was suffering from asthma, diabetes, chronic pulmonary disease and was bedridden for the past four years," the CM added. RPS BNM BNM