Kolkata, A senior West Bengal health official, who tested positive for the coronavirus infection earlier this month, died at a private hospital here in the wee hours of Sunday.

The 60-year-old doctor, an assistant director of the state health services and in-charge of the Central Medical Stores, was initially admitted in a state government hospital, but transferred to the private health facility on April 18, and put on ventilation as he developed respiratory problems.

His condition deteriorated on Saturday, and he passed away at 1.30 a.m. on Sunday.

A hospital source said the official also had diabetes and hypertension.

It was still not clear whether the state government would categorise his death as one due to Covid 19 or because of other comorbidities. A committee of doctors formed by the government has the final say in declaring the primary cause of death of a coronavirus positive patient as due to Covid-19 disease or due to some other condition.

Hospital sources said the official's wife is also under treatment after having contracted the virus.

A number of employees of the Central Medical Stores have been sent on quarantine after the official tested positive for the viral disease.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Baneree in a tweet said she was "deeply pained at the untimely demise" of state assistant director, health services, Central Medical Stores, Biplab Kanti Dasgupta.

"We have lost Dr Biplab Kanti Dasgupta, Assistant Director, Health Services, West Bengal in the early hours of today. He was Assistant Director of Health Services, Central Medical Stores. We are deeply pained with his untimely demise," she said on her twitter handle.

In a separate tweet, the Chief Minister said Dasgupta's sacrifice "for the cause of ailing humanity will ever be in our hearts and will make our COVID warriors fight the deadly virurs with even greater determination".

"My heartfelt condolence to Dr Dasgupta's bereaved family members and colleagues," she added.

State BJP president Dilip Ghosh said the death was indicative of the health system collapsing and stuation spinning out of control.

"On Friday, a mediaperson suspected Covid 19 case died. On Sunday, a senior health official passed away. He was corona positive. Those in the frontline of the fight against coronavirus are not only contracting the disease, but are also dying. I think the situation is going out of control," said Ghosh.