Egypt: First death from Coronavirus confirmed

A German tourist Sunday became the first death case of Coronavirus in Egypt, which has confirmed 55 patients suffering from the fast-spreading virus.

The victim came to the country a week ago but refused to be quarantined after he was tested positive on March 6.

The 60-year old holidaymaker, according to Health Minister Hala Zayed died, at Hurghada port city hospital on Friday. He was showing alarming symptoms and was suffering from a respiratory failure caused by severe Pneumonia.

Also on Sunday, a health ministry spokesperson said the country registered seven new confirmed cases bringing the number of infected people to 55 among whom 33 passengers onboard a River Nile cruise ship.

The ship anchored at Luxor with 171 people onboard, including 70 Egyptian members of the crew.

Egypt became in February the first African country to be affected by the outbreak which emerged from China in December. Over 3,000 people have died in the Asian country.

Globally, the virus has spread to more than 80 countries.