ANKARA

The Central African Republic on Sunday announced its first death from the novel coronavirus.

The Health Ministry confirmed the death, without providing information about the deceased.

The country has registered 552 COVID-19 cases and 18 recoveries so far, according to official figures.

The pandemic has killed more than 342,100 worldwide, with an excess of 5.31 million confirmed cases, while recoveries have surpassed 2.11 million, according to the running tally of the US’ Johns Hopkins University.

*Writing by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur