Punjab confirms first death from corona, toll reaches 4

Punjab on Thursday reported its first death from the novel coronavirus, taking the tally of those killed from the deadly virus to 4.

New Delhi [India], Mar 19 : Punjab on Thursday reported its first death from the novel coronavirus, taking the tally of those killed from the deadly virus to 4.

"The total number of positive cases of COVID19 in India stands at 167, including 25 foreigners. Four deaths (1 each) in Delhi, Karnataka, Punjab and Maharashtra," said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in a statement.

According to official data provided by the Ministry of Health, as many as 15 people infected with the virus have been discharged after receiving treatment.As per the data, Maharashtra continues to have the highest number of cases among all states with the tally to 45 including three foreign nationals.Kerala, which reported the first coronavirus case in the country, is the second worst-hit state with 27 confirmed cases.Uttar Pradesh which borders the national capital reported 17 confirmed cases with five people discharged.As many as 12 cases of coronavirus have been reported from Delhi including one foreign national.As of now seven states in the country including West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh have one case each.Meanwhile, Haryana and Karnataka reported 17 and 14 cases respectively.Newly carved union territories Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh reported four and eight cases of the virus respectively.The Health Ministry has issued an advisory on measures to enforce social distancing and suggesting shut down of all educational institutions gymnasiums, museums, cultural and social centers, swimming pools and theatres till March 31.The government has also tightened the lockdown on the spread of coronavirus cases with travel restrictions prohibiting entry of all passengers from the European Union, European Free Trade Association, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Philippines and Afghstan.

( With inputs from ANI )