German Tourist Is 1st COVID-19 Fatality In Africa

Story ByLee Bullen,Sub EditorJoseph Golder,AgencyCentral European News

Egyptian authorities have confirmed Africa’s first COVID-19 fatality after a 60-year-old German tourist died of the deadly virus – also making it also the first German confirmed death.

Egypt’s Ministry of Health said in a statement: “The 60-year-old German citizen showed symptoms of a fever (and) checked into Hurghada hospital on 6th March.”

The statement confirmed that the unnamed patient was diagnosed with COVID-19, adding that he arrived in the country from Germany one week ago.

CEN

The health ministry also said that 45 suspected cases of the virus originated on board a Nile cruise ship.

The vessel was transporting 171 people, including 101 tourists and 70 Egyptian crew members, according to PM Mostafa Kamal Madbouly.

As well as the cruise ship cases, Egypt had previously diagnosed three other people with COVID-19, and the first was confirmed on 14th February.

The first sufferer, a Chinese citizen, has recovered and was released from hospital last week.

The other two cases involve a Canadian oil company worker and an Egyptian who had returned home from Serbia via France. They are both still being treated, according to reports.

Meanwhile, other countries, including France, have confirmed that six tourists returning from Egypt have tested positive for COVID-19.

Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri has announced an entry ban on “anyone who has been in Egypt during the past two weeks and is not a citizen or resident of Israel”.

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