Oman reports its first COVID-19 death

By Diana Shalhob

MUSCAT, Oman (AA) - The Omani Health Ministry on Wednesday confirmed the country's first coronavirus death, along with 18 new confirmed cases.

"The total number of infections recorded in the Sultanate increased to 210, after recording 18 new infections," the ministry said in a statement cited by the official Oman News Agency.

The ministry noted that 34 people have so far recovered from the virus.

On Tuesday, the Omani government allowed civil servants to work remotely as part of measures to fight the outbreak.

After originating in Wuhan last December, the virus known as COVID-19 has spread to at least 180 countries and regions across the world, with its epicenter shifting to Europe, while China has largely come out of the crisis.

The virus has killed more than 42,400 people and infected over 862,200 globally, while some 178,800 people recovered from the disease, according to figures collated by the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

* Writing by Mahmoud Barakat in Ankara.