Paris (People's Daily) - The French health minister Agnès Buzyn has reported the first death from COVID-19 in Europe on Saturday. It is thought to be the first death from the virus outside of Asia.

File photo of France's Health Minister Agnès Buzyn. (Photo: AP)

According to Buzyn, the victim is an 80-year-old Chinese tourist, from Hubei Province. He arrived in France on January 16 and was hospitalized in Bichat Hospital, Paris, with strict isolation measures on January 25. His condition rapidly got worse and he had been in a critical situation for several days in intensive care.

"His daughter also has the COVID-19 virus and is also hospitalized at Bichat, her health condition is not causing concern anymore and she should be released soon." said Buzyn.