France announces first coronavirus death in Europe
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France’s health minister has said a Chinese tourist has died from coronavirus COVID19 , the first fatality from the virus in Europe.
An 80-year-old Chinese tourist, from Hubei province, died in a Paris hospital, said France’s health minister, Agnès Buzyn.
“I was informed yesterday night of the death of a Chinese tourist aged 80, who was hospitalised in Bichat Hospital, Paris, since 25 January,” she said. “He died from a pulmonary infection from coronavirus.”
“This Chinese patient, from Hubei province, arrived in France on 16 January 16. He was hospitalised at Bichat with strict isolation measures on 25 January.
“His condition rapidly got worse and he had been in a critical situation for several days in intensive care.
“His daughter also has the COVID19 virus and is also hospitalised at Bichat, her health condition is not causing concern anymore and she should be released soon.”
The death in France was announced as latest death toll reached 1,500 after the Hubei province’s health commission confirmed 139 more people had died.
The health commission from the central Chinese province, the epicenter of the outbreak, also disclosed 2,420 fresh cases of the COVID-19 strain, half the number from the previous day.
Meanwhile, the US plans to evacuate Americans from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, the site of the biggest coronavirus outbreak outside China, officials say.
The ship has been held in quarantine in a Japanese port since 3 February. Out of 3,700 people on board, 218 have tested positive for the virus.
US citizens will be offered seats on a government-chartered flight on Sunday, the US embassy in Tokyo said.
