Tunisia confirms first death from coronavirus

SOUSSE, Tunisia

A 72-year-old woman, who had chronic diseases died from the novel coronavirus, a Tunisian health official said Thursday.

The official in Sousse said the patient who was admitted to a hospital because of respiratory distress syndrome died before treatment could begin.

He said the patient was found infected with the virus.

While the number of confirmed cases in the Tunisia stands at 39, the number of quarantined is 8,787.

At least 5,628 have completed the quarantine period and returned home.

The virus known as COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China last December, and has spread to at least 160 countries and territories. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic.

Out of more than 229,000 confirmed cases, the death toll now exceeds 9,300, and more than 84,500 have recovered, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University in the U.S.

Despite the rising number of cases, most who become infected suffer only mild symptoms and recover.

* Writing by Fahri Aksut