New Delhi: A 60-year-old woman who had tested positive for COVID-19 has died in the capital, marking the first fatality amid the current rise in cases, officials confirmed on Saturday.

According to health authorities, Delhi currently has 294 active COVID-19 cases. The deceased woman was reportedly undergoing treatment for acute intestinal obstruction following a laparotomy. Officials stated that her COVID-19 diagnosis was "incidental" and not the primary cause of death.

"The woman was suffering from acute intestinal obstruction post-laparotomy. The COVID-19 finding was incidental," a senior health official noted.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta addressed the situation earlier in the week, stating that although 19 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalised in Delhi, there is no cause for alarm.

“The Delhi government remains alert, and hospitals are fully prepared to handle any eventuality,” Gupta assured on Thursday.