Coronavirus positive cases in Maharashtra rise to 19

With two more persons testing positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra, number of infected individuals in state has gone up to 19, a health department official said on Saturday.

One of two new patients is from Ahmednagar city, official said. However, he did t specify location of or patient.

"Till Friday evening, number of persons who tested positive for coronavirus was 17. test reports of two more persons came late at night. As y were found positive, count of infected persons in state w stands at 19," official told PTI.

"One of m is from Ahmednagar city. He had recently returned from Dubai and shown symptoms similar to coronavirus infection," he said.

"His blood sample was sent for testing, which confirmed infection late last night," he added.

Ten of coronavirus positive cases in state are in Pune, three each in Mumbai and Nagpur, and one in Thane.

In wake of coronavirus scare, state government had on Friday ordered closure of cinema atres, gymnasiums, swimming pools and public parks in cities of Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad till March 30.

government also invoked Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 to tackle virus outbreak.

As per government decision, schools and colleges in Pune and neighbouring twin industrial towns of Pimpri and Chinchwad will remain closed till furr orders.