Guinean local media reports 1st COVID-19 death

DAKAR, Senegal/ANKARA

A 75-year-old Lebanese elderly died in Guinea from the coronavirus pandemic, becoming the first death in the country, according to local media.

The victim died from COVID-19 in the capital Conakry while receiving treatment in Donka hospital, the africaguinee website late Tuesday reported a source close to the victim's family as saying.

Since Saturday, the Guinean authorities have imposed on people in the country to wear masks in public places as a preventive measure against the pandemic.

Authorities in Guinea have so far confirmed 363 COVID-19 cases after recording 44 new cases recently.

The total number of recoveries is currently 31, according to the Worldometer, a website that compiles new case numbers.

Since the virus emerged last December in the Chinese city of Wuhan, it has spread to at least 185 countries and regions.

There are over 1.98 million confirmed infections globally with more than 126,700 deaths, according to the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University. More than 493,600 have recovered so far.

* Alaattin Dogru contributed to this story from Dakar, Senegal