Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra reported their first deaths due to the Delta plus variant of Covid-19 on Saturday and Friday respectively, according to officials.

In Tamil Nadu, a patient from Madurai succumbed to the infection, according to the state health department.

Minister for Medical and Family Welfare MA Subramanian said three positive cases of the new 'Delta Plus' variant were identified of which two have recovered.

Those tested positive for the Delta Plus variant include a 32 year old nurse from Chennai and another individual from Kancheepuram district.

"After the death of the Madurai patient, the samples were collected, which confirmed that it was 'Delta Plus' variant," he said.

However, the patient's contacts have tested negative.

In Maharashtra, an elderly woman died in Ratnagiri civil hospital, a senior official said Friday.

The woman hails from Sangameswar and was admitted to the hospital, over 330 kilometres from Mumbai, a few days ago, Ratnagiri district official Sanjay Shinde told PTI.

He said the woman's death was being audited to see if she suffered from comorbidities.

Shinde said district officials have been told to increase awareness as well as sensitise people about appropriate Covid-19 behavior.

According to the Union health ministry, after Maharashtra with the maximum of 20 cases of 'Delta Plus', nine people in Tamil Nadu have tested positive for the new variant as of Friday.