Kalaburagi, Mar 16 (IANS): A girl tested positive for coronavirus in north Karnataka's Kalaburagi, while three of her relatives tested negative, an official said on Sunday, March 15. 

"The girl who tested positive for Covid-19 is the daughter of the 76-year-old man who was the country's first victim of the deadly disease on March 10. She is under treatment in the district hospital and her health condition is stable," said Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner B. Sharat. 

"Three of the girl's relatives, who also came in contact with the old man, tested negative. They are also in the same hospital's isolation ward under observation," he added.

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State Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar said the girl's blood samples were sent to the Institute of Virology at Pune for re-testing, as the first test of her throat swab was done in Bengaluru.

"Till date, 6 COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in the state, including one death. Five positive patients are in isolation at designated hospital in Bengaluru and are stable," Sudhakar told reporters here.

AIn a related development, the state Primary and Secondary Education Department has postponed the examinations for classes 7, 8 and 9, due to start on Monday.

"The exams have been postponed from March 16 to March 31 as a precautionary measure," Education Minister S. Suresh Kumar told reporters here.

Till date, 111,885 passengers were screened across the state, including 78,106 at Bengaluru airport and 28,321 at Mangaluru airport.

"In addition, 5,458 passengers were screened at Mangaluru and Karwar seaports," said an official statement here.

Additional health desks have been set up at the Bengaluru airport to facilitate faster check-up of international passengers.

In an appeal to the public, the state government advised any person returning from Covid-19 affected countries must remain in home isolation for 14 days from the date of arrival.

"The foreign returned people should self-notify the nearest state-run hospital or call 104 health helpline. Maintain personal hygiene, use tissue paper/handkerchief while coughing or sneezing, frequently wash hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer and avoid attending mass social gatherings," said the statement.

Meanwhile, the Chamarajangar district administration directed the closure of the Bandipur safari camp, resorts, and hotels and asked tourists staying in them to vacate them on Monday.