In a second similar incident in Karnataka, an elderly man who tested positive for Covid-19 has died at a hospital in Belagavi district, a senior official in the health department said.

Harsh Gupta, principal secretary in Karnataka's health and family welfare department, had earlier confirmed the death to PTI.

According to a health department release, the 70-year-old patient, a resident of Benakanahalli village in Belagavi, died late Wednesday night, 28 May.

The patient died due to acute cardiorespiratory arrest with encephalopathy and late-onset seizures associated with diabetes, hypertension, IHD and positive status.

The patient, it was further stated in the release, had an episode of seizure and became unconscious on 26 May and was then taken to a private hospital in Belagavi.

He was treated by a neurophysician there and diagnosed as suffering from focal seizures with encephalopathy and severe anaemia with thrombocytopenia, according to the health department.

As his oxygen saturation was 88 per cent, his throat swab was taken and he was found to be Covid-positive as well, added the press note.

It also stated that the patient's attenders took him to Belagavi Medical College and Hospital against medical advice on 28 May.

"At the hospital, he was admitted in the respiratory medicine department and treated as per Covid protocol. However, in spite of all efforts, the patient's condition deteriorated and he died on 28 May," noted the release.

On 17 May, an 84-year-old-man with severe comorbidities had also died at a private hospital in Whitefield, Bengaluru, and his Covid-19 test results were found to be positive after his death.

Meanwhile, the health department bulletin pegged active Covid-19 cases at 148 in Karnataka as of 29 May, with 42 new cases being reported on Thursday, 29 May.

The day also saw a total of 513 tests being done for Covid, including 463 RTPCR and 50 RAT. Thursday's positivity rate stood at 8.18 per cent and fatality rate at 2.3 per cent.