Jordan confirms first death from COVID-19

Jordan reported its first fatality from the COVID-19 Saturday with the death of an 83-year-old female patient, the head of Prince Hamza Hospital in Amman, Abdulaziz al-Khashman, said.

Al-Khashman said the victim had a chronic disease, Anadolu Agency reported according to the nation's official news agency, Petra.

Official figures show cases of the virus in Jordan have reached 235.

Government spokesman Amjad Al Adailah said a nationwide curfew to stem the spread of the virus began March 21.

After emerging in Wuhan, China last December, the virus known as COVID-19 has spread to at least 175 countries and regions.

The number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 593,000, while the death toll is above 27,000 but nearly 130,000 have recovered, according to data compiled by US-based Johns Hopkins University.

-- BERNAMA