Bengaluru:  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.

State Health Minister B Sriramulu in a tweet late Thursday said the necessary contact tracing, isolation and other measures as per protocol were being taken.

"The 76 year old man from Kalbauragi who passed away & was a suspected #COVID19 patient has been Confirmed for #COVID19. The necessary contact tracing, isolation & other measures as per protocol are being carried out," he said.

The man, who recently returned from Saudi Arabia, had died on Tuesday night.