Coronavirus claims first life in Bolivia

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Bolivia confirmed its first coronavirus-related death on Sunday, with confirmed cases rising to 96.

Health Minister Anibal Cruz announced that the patient was a 78-year-old female from eastern Santa Cruz.

"The patient was diagnosed on March 26. Until yesterday she remained stable, in mandatory isolation; at night her respiratory distress began to intensify, so she was intubated and entered intensive care," he was quoted as saying by the Health Ministry on Twitter.

Disclosing that the patient's death and organ failure was due to old age, the minister recommended Bolivians to take care of the elderly who are "more vulnerable and sensitive to this disease."

The country's former president, Evo Morales, offered his condolences to the patient's family, and wished "a lot of strength" to Bolivians in these "difficult times."

The novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, was first detected in Wuhan, China in December. There are currently more than 723,000 cases worldwide and above 34,000 deaths with over 152,000 recoveries, according to U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

Despite the severity of the virus, most people experience mild symptoms and recover.