Coronavirus claims first victim in Europe after patient dies in Paris

French health minister confirms tourist’s death from virus

A coronavirus patient has died at a hospital in Paris, becoming the first person in Europe to fall victim to the illness.

French health minister Agnes Buzyn said on Saturday that an elderly Chinese tourist had died from coronavirus.

The 80-year-old man had been treated at the Bichat hospital in northern Paris since 25 January, before dying of a lung infection caused by the virus. His daughter, who was also hospitalised, is expected to recover.

France has so far recorded 11 cases of the virus, out of a global total of more than 65,000. The vast majority of people suffering from coronavirus are in China.

The first fatality from the illness in Europe comes soon after the announcement of the first confirmed case of the disease in Africa – in Egypt – on Friday.

Since coronavirus was first identified in China in December last year, it has swept across the world, with around 500 cases declared in 24 other countries and territories to date.

Prior to the death in France, three people had died outside of mainland China – with one death in each of Japan, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

The largest cluster of cases outside China is on the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship quarantined off Japan. Of the estimated 3,700 people on board, 285 have been diagnosed with coronavirus.

On Saturday, the US said it would send an aircraft to pick up American citizens stuck on the ship. They may then face another two weeks of isolation in the US as a precautionary measure.

In the UK, nine people have so far been diagnosed with coronavirus. NHS England said on Saturday that eight of these people have now been discharged from hospital.

The health secretary, Matt Hancock, thanked those released for their “patience in unique circumstances”.

“The overwhelming gratitude expressed by those who left earlier this week is a testament to the exceptional support and tireless dedication of our NHS in trying circumstances,” he added.

“I want to stress that any individuals who are discharged from hospital are now well and do not pose any health risk to the public.”

Among those discharged were five members of the ski group who were treated at the Royal Free and St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

In a joint statement, they said they were “feeling well and looking forward to being home”.

“All of our group, including the six in other countries, have recovered quickly from the virus having required minimal medical treatment during our time in isolation,” the statement added.

“We understand the virus can be dangerous for some, but we also want to share the important facts of our situation to help reassure people.

“We want to thank everybody who has been involved in our care, in particular the NHS nurses and doctors who have looked after us over the past few days.”

The group had been staying in a chalet in France which was visited by businessman Steve Walsh, from Hove, the first Briton with the virus to be identified. He said on Tuesday that he had fully recovered.

All 94 people in quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral have been released, but more than 100 people remain in isolation at the Kents Hill Park Hotel in Milton Keynes.

Public Health England (PHE) has contacted more than 200 delegates who attended a conference in London on 6 February, after one of the attendees is now known to be suffering from the virus. Two MPs, who were among the delegates, have decided to remain mostly at home.

On Sunday morning, Chinese health officials said they had confirmed more than 1,800 new cases in Hubei province, the centre of the outbreak. The death toll in the country rose above 1,650, according to the country’s National Health Commission.

A notice was issued on Friday by authorities in Beijing saying that anyone returning to the city from holidays elsewhere in the country must go into quarantine for 14 days or risk punishment.

Elsewhere, hundreds of protestors in Hong Kong, which has experienced months of anti-Beijing protests, marched on Saturday to call for the total closure of the border with mainland China. They also oppose proposals to turn some buildings into quarantine centres.

The infection is believed to have originated in a food market in the city of Wuhan, in China’s Hubei province.

Additional reporting from Reuters