Coronavirus death toll in Australia hits 16

MELBOURNE

The death toll in Australia from the novel coronavirus has risen to 16, local authorities said on Sunday.

In a statement, officials from the states of Victoria and Queensland said that a 75-year-old woman was in the hospital in Brisbane while an 80-yer-old male patient was treated in Melbourne.

Australia has confirmed 3,809 cases of coronavirus since the novel virus first confirmed in the country.

On Friday, Australia announced tougher quarantine measures to slow the spread of the virus.

Under the new rules that would apply from Saturday midnight, all arrivals coming into Australia will be quarantined in designated facilities such as hotels for 14 days, said a statement from the Prime Ministry.

U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University data shows worldwide infections nearing the 665,000 mark with over 30,000 deaths. More than 140,000 have recovered from infections.

After first appearing in Wuhan, China in December, the virus has spread to 177 countries and regions.