A 67-year-old patient who was being treated for COVID-19 at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kalamassery, died on Sunday.
He was admitted to the ICU at the hospital on July 8 with symptoms of the infection. He had high blood pressure and was a diabetic.
As his condition continued to remain critical, he had been placed on ventilator and was also administered plasma therapy as part of his treatment.
He was a resident of Veliyathunad, near Aluva, and is suspected to have contracted the disease either from the Aluva or Maradu markets, which he had visited, a health official on the surveillance team said. The deceased was a vegetable vendor and about eight of his family members are also suspected to have developed the infection, the official said.