Team Herald
MAPUSA: Amidst simmering rumours on social media, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Wednesday clarified that former Pernem MLA Jitendra Deshprabhu died due to pneumonia and not COVID-19.
Deshprabhu, 64, who was admitted to GMC in a breathless condition, died on Tuesday. As GMC gave his cause of death as pneumonia, several doubts were being raised on social media with regards to the sudden death of the late Congress leader.
Rane added that the result of two COVID-19 tests, conducted on Deshprabhu, were negative.
“As a Health Minister, I take full authority of my statement that Deshprabhu passed away of acute pneumonia. I request people to refrain from spreading false news and indulging in rumour mongering through social media,” Rane said in a statement issued.
“With all kinds of rumours floating on social media with regard to death of Jitendra Deshprabhu, I would like to state that in case of Deshprabhu, his COVID19 test was done through the virology lab at GMC, and that rapid testing was not used in his case," he said.
“SRL Diagnostic, which is a recognized laboratory by Govt of India has also tested his and reported Negative for COVID-19, the tests still being in possession of GMC," Rane informed further.
Hours after Deshprabhu's death, Congress Goa President Girish Chodankar had took to social media questioning the government whether the State is really prepared to save Covid-related pneumonia cases.