Panchayat staffer dies, rapid test returns +ve

RAJAHMUNDRY: A

panchayat secretary

in Mallepalli under Gandepalli mandal in

East Godavari

district collapsed at work and died on Friday. He tested positive for

Covid-19

on a

rapid antigen test

conducted after his death.

Paningapalli

Jaya Shankar Narayana

(50) had been suffering from Covid-19 symptoms for the last seven days. He came to work with the help of his son on Friday to draw money for pensions meant to be distributed from Saturday as he was the pension signing authority and had to sign and distribute cheques to welfare assistants and volunteers. At about 3 pm, he collapsed in his chair and doctors who rushed to the spot declared him dead.

Speaking to STOI,

Gandepalli MDO Lincoln

said Jaya Shankar Narayana was sick for the past week and had applied for leave. However, he came to office to sign the pension cheques. The MDO added that an RT-PCR test had been conducted on Jaya Shankar Narayana on Friday morning but the results are yet to arrive. He rued that no employee could approach the deceased’s body due to fear of contracting Covid-19.