CORONAVIRUS | A woman in her 70s was confirmed as the first Covid-19 related death in New Zealand, Xinhua news agency quoted the New Zealand government as announced on Sunday afternoon.

Director-general of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield from the New Zealand Ministry of Health gave the update on a daily press conference.

The woman passed away in Greymouth Hospital in West Coast region, South Island early Sunday morning. She tested positive for the virus on Friday morning, said Bloomfield.

According to Bloomfield, the woman was first diagnosed with influenza. She had been treated as such, and medical staff were wearing personal protection equipment gear only suitable for influenza. As a result, 21 staff who had close contact with the patient are now in self-isolation.

New Zealand reported 60 new confirmed and three new probably cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, bringing the total number of the cases to 514 in the country.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that death case is the strong reason why New Zealand took strong measures to contain the disease. 

New Zealand has declared a national emergency and entered into national lockdown from Wednesday.

- Bernama

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