First COVID-19 Death Reported in France... First in Europe (Summary)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] The first death caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has occurred in France. This is the first COVID-19 death case reported in Europe.

On the 15th (local time), according to local media such as the UK BBC and AFP, the deceased was an 80-year-old Chinese male tourist from Hubei Province, China, the origin of COVID-19. Wuhan City, the origin of COVID-19, is located in Hubei Province.

Agn?s Buzyn, France's Minister of Health, stated that the man arrived in France on the 16th of last month and was placed under quarantine from the 25th of the same month.

The man reportedly died on the 14th at a hospital in Paris while receiving treatment for pneumonia caused by COVID-19.

The man’s daughter in her 30s, who traveled with him, was also confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Paris.

So far, COVID-19 deaths have occurred in three places outside mainland China: Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Japan, but this is the first case in Europe.

There are a total of 11 confirmed COVID-19 cases in France, of which six are receiving treatment in hospitals.