Bengaluru, Apr 22 (IANS): Karnataka has registered nine new Covid positive cases, raising the state's tally to 427, said an official on Wednesday.

"As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, cumulatively 427 Covid positive cases have been confirmed in the state. These include 17 deaths and 131 discharges," said a health official.

Three Covid patients were discharged in the past 24 hours.

Among places with high case-load -- Vijyapura, Bidar, Ballari and Mandya -- are yet to record a discharge.

Of the 279 active cases, 274 patients, including a pregnant woman are isolated at designated hospitals and are stable, except five in ICU.

Among the nine new cases, Kalaburagi accounted for five, and Bengaluru Urban and Nanjanagudu, Mysuru, two each.

Incidentally, no new cases surfaced from Bengaluru after three days.

Seven cases were contacts of earlier patients while two cases are also suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI)

Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Department Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey issued a circular to provide relaxation from Covid duty to all pregnant women and mothers with children below 1 year age.

Similarly, Chief Secretary T.M. Vijay Bhaskar has also written to all deputy commissioners to identify additional activities which can be allowed from Thursday to mitigate public difficulty amid Covid lockdown.