PODGORICA, Montenegro

Western Balkan country Montenegro on Monday reported its first death from the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19.

A 65-year-old male patient with preexisting lung disease died in coastal Herceg Novi province, said Jevto Erakovic, the head of the Clinical Center of Montenegro.

A total of 21 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were also reported in the country.

The coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, first emerged in Wuhan, China last December and has spread to at least 167 countries and territories.

There are over 341,300 confirmed cases worldwide, with a death toll surpassing 14,700, while more than 98,800 have recovered, according to data compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.