Afghan president's top aide dies of COVID-19

KABUL, Afghanistan

Afghanistan's top presidential aide Yosuf Ghazanfar died of coronavirus on Friday night, an official confirmed.

Ghazanfar, who is also a leading businessman, was unwell for a while now, said presidential spokesman Shah Hussein Murtazawi.

The Turkish Embassy in Kabul has expressed condolences over his death.

"@turkembkabul has learnt with great sorrow and regret that Yosuf Ghazanfar has passed away this afternoon of #COVID19. Our condolonces go to his family, the Afghan nation and the Afghan Government. May Allah rest his soul in peace," it tweeted.

Earlier this year, local media reported that many people close to President Ashraf Ghani had tested positive for COVID-19.

These reports were not confirmed publicly by officials.

However, the presidential spokesman confirmed Ghani and the first lady had tested negative for the virus.

The death toll from COVID-19 has hit 807 in Afghanistan, with more than 32,000 cases and above 16,000 recoveries.