Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca speaks at a news conference in Ankara, Turkey, March 17, 2020. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Tuesday reported Turkey's first death from COVID-19, or novel coronavirus. He said the patient was an 89-year-old male who was infected with COVID-19 from his employee. Turkey detected 51 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 98. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)
ANKARA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Tuesday reported Turkey's first death from COVID-19, or novel coronavirus.
"In our struggle, today I lost one patient," the minister told reporters.
He said the patient was an 89-year-old male who was infected with COVID-19 from his employee.
Turkey detected 51 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 98.
