A 76-year-old man who died two days ago in Karnataka while being treated for suspected coronavirus has become India's first COVID-19 fatality with his samples taken earlier confirming the infection, the state government said on Thursday.

A senior Union health ministry official said that 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 coronavirus cases in India rose to 74 on Thursday after 14 fresh cases were reported from several states, including nine from Maharashtra. The Delhi government declared COVID-19 an epidemic and announced shutting down of schools, colleges and cinema halls till March 31.

Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has announced that all sports activities, including the IPL, will be banned from the national capital in wake of coronavirus threat.