Argentina records second death from coronavirus outbreak

Argentina has confirmed its second death from the Covid-19 outbreak, a 61-year-old male from Chaco Province.

The man was identified by various media outlets as César Cotichelli, a professor at the National Technological University (UTN) who had recently travelled to Europe.

Cotichelli, who passed away at the Hospital Sanatorio Femechaco de la Comunidad in Resistencia, had been in intensive care and suffered from a number of health conditions, doctors said.

Alfredo Pividori, the hospital’s medical director, said Cotichelli had returned to Argentina last weekend and that a test on Thursday had confirmed he had Covid-19.

The patient had entered the hospital last Monday with severe respiratory difficulties and was immediately admitted to intensive care, the doctor confirmed.

"He was already seriously ill, with respiratory difficulties. He is a former user of tobacco and underwent surgery for about right years ago for pulmonary empyema," said Pividori, who added that the man "suffered from kidney failure.”

“Today he was going to enter a programme for dialysis for all the complications that arose, but he died around noon," the healthcare professional said.

All of his relatives and others that had been in contact with him since his arrival in Argentina had been contacted and were in isolation, said Pividori.

– TIMES/NA