Several states in shutdown mode, total number of coronavirus cases 75

Several states across India went into battle mode to contain the spread of COVID-19, shutting down schools, theatres and colleges, and many public events, including the IPL, were postponed as the Union Health ministry on Friday put the number of cases at 75.

The tally of 75, one more since Thursday night, includes a 76-year-old man from Karnataka who became the country's first coronavirus fatality, Health Ministry officials said.

The count is likely to be higher with Army sources saying a man who had returned from Italy this week tested positive at the force's quarantine facilities in Manesar in Haryana.

Officials in Maharashtra also said two more people in Nagpur tested positive for coronavirus, a pandemic that has infected 1,31,500 people in 116 countries and territories and killed more than 4,900.

Union Health ministry officials did not immediately confirm the cases in Maharashtra and Manesar.

Giving a breakup, they said Delhi has reported six positive cases and Uttar Pradesh 10. Karnataka has five coronavirus patients, Maharashtra 11 and Ladakh three.

Besides, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab have reported one case each. Kerala has recorded 17 cases, including three patients discharged last month after they recovered from the contagious infection with flu-like symptoms.

The 75 confirmed cases include 17 foreigners -- 16 Italian tourists and a Canadian who was in Uttar Pradesh.

Taking stock of the situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed a video conference of SAARC leaders to chalk out a joint strategy and set an example for the world.

"Our planet is battling the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. At various levels, governments and people are trying their best to combat it," Modi said on Twitter.

South Asia, which is home to a significant number of the global population, should leave no stone unturned to ensure that the people are healthy, he said.

Amid speculation over the ongoing Budget Session being shortened, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told PTI,
"There is no question of curtailing the session."
Aday after the country's first coronavirus death was reported from Kalaburagi in the state, the Karnataka government announced a