The district reported its first Covid-19 death after the throat swab sample of a 39-year old man tested positive on Saturday evening two days after his death.

The deceased, a resident of Markachho police station area, had returned home from Mumbai on a truck with over 25 others and had been quarantined earlier this month.

Around 67 persons, |who had come in close contact with the deceased, have been identified. Their swab samples are being collected and will be sent to RIMS in Ranchi for the Covid-19 test, said Dr Sharad Kumar, nodal officer for Covid-19 in Sadar Hospital.

Deputy commissioner Ramesh Gholap and superintendent of police Ehtesham Waquarib on Sunday visited Jamu panchayat from where the deceased hailed and took stock of the situation.

The DC said the area had been sealed and the village was being sanitised. The DC also urged people to stay home and remain safe.

In a second death, which was a suspected Covid-19 case, a 19-year-old resident of Satganwa, who had come from Mumbai on May 16 and was quarantined, was rushed to the dedicated Covid hospital at Jhumri Telaiya on Saturday around 5pm after he complained of restlessness and shortness in breathing, and died at 11pm.

Dr Amrendra Kumar Sinha, nodal officer of the |dedicated Covid hospital at Jhumri Telaiya, said the patient was brought in a critical condition and a ventilator was required.

“We tried our level best to save him but he collapsed,” said Dr Sinha. “His throat swab sample has been sent to RIMS, Ranchi, and the result is awaited,” the doctor added.