A 70-year old woman, who died after being found positive for the coronavirus in an initial test, has become Karnataka's second COVID-19 fatality with results confirming the infection on Thursday as the total number of affected by the contagion in the state rose to 55, the health department said.

Karnataka government has warned strict penal action against landlords or house-owners under provisions of law for forcing doctors, paramedical staff and healthcare professionals to vacate their rented residences citing COVID-19 spread through them as the reason.

In order to make the lockdown convenient for the people of the State, Karnataka DG-IGP, Praveen Kumar, in an official tweet added that grocery shops across the State can remain open if people can co-operate with the police by not crowding the stores.

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Wednesday appealed to people to help the state government by donating money for the advanced medical support system to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Ten new positive cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Karnataka on Wednesday, taking the total number of the affected persons by the deadly virus in the state to 51, the health department said.

The spread of coronavirus in the entire country is worrisome to all and the government has taken several measures to tackle it. Lockdown has been imposed across the country. The people are also conscious and are taking precautions to prevent coronavirus from spreading. 

 With the COVID-19 spread looming large and the government ordering a lockdown to combat the threat, it was a low-key Ugadi celebrations in Karnataka with people mostly staying indoors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to the nation on Tuesday to remain indoors is intended to protect the lives of hundreds of people and their families from the "agony of the damage" caused by coronavirus, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said.