First coronavirus death in India

New Delhi: India reported its first death due to coronavirus on Thursday as the number of positive cases soared to 74, with authorities taking emergency measures to contain its spread like shutting down schools, colleges and cinema halls in New Delhi and other places.

The Union Health Ministry confirmed that a 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi in Karnataka, who died on Tuesday, was infected with coronavirus. Samples of the man, who had recently returned from Saudi Arabia, “has been confirmed for Covid-19,” Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu said.

A senior Union Health Ministry official said the death of the man, who had visited Saudi Arabia from



January 29 to February 29, “is confirmed to be caused due to co-morbidity and has also tested positive for COVD-19”. The official said the man had reached Hyderabad on February 29 and went to Kalaburagi.

Fourteen fresh cases have been reported from several States, including nine from Maharashtra, the Ministry said on Thursday. The Delhi government declared coronavirus an epidemic and said all those schools and colleges where exams are over should be shut down as also cinema halls till March 31. Uttarakhand and Manipur also announced closure of schools till March 31. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked people not to panic.