Turkey reports its first death from COVID-19

Turkey has reported its first death from the new coronavirus.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said late on Tuesday that the first casualty was an 89-year-old male patient who contracted the virus from an employee who had "contacts with China".

Koca also reported 51 new COVID-19 cases in the country, raising the overall number of infections to 98.

"For the first time in our struggle against the virus, I have lost a patient," Koca, who is a doctor, told reporters while announcing the death.

Worldwide the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 198,000 people and killed more than 7,900.

The COVID-19 illness causes mild or moderate symptoms in most people, but severe symptoms are more likely in the elderly or those with existing health problems.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

According to the World Health Organisation, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

More than 81,000 people have recovered so far, mostly in China.