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Nigeria reports first coronavirus death

The agency said the confirmed number of infections in Nigeria had now risen to 36, with cases registered in largest city Lagos, the capital Abuja and four other states. 

  (Agence France-Presse)
Lagos, NIgeria
Mon, March 23, 2020

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 Nigeria reports first coronavirus death A banner is displayed to turn away people arriving for physical exercises in compliance with government directive against social gatherings at the National Stadium, in Surulere in Lagos, on March 22, 2020. Nigeria, the most populated country in Africa, on Saturday tightened restrictions in three states on places of worship, airports and bars to try and protect its population against the COVID-19 coronavirus. In Lagos state, Abuja and Ogun, churches, mosques, social gatherings, football viewing centres and night clubs must restrict attendance to 50 people, according to new regulations drawn up by the Presidential Task Force on the COVID-19 coronavirus. (Agence France Presse/Pius Utomi Ekpei)

N

igeria on Monday reported its first death from coronavirus as confirmed cases of infections in Africa's most populous nation climbed further. 

"The 1st COVID-19 death in Nigeria has been recorded," the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control wrote on Twitter.

"The case was a 67 year old male who returned home following medical treatment in UK. He had underlying medical conditions -- multiple myeloma & diabetes & was undergoing chemotherapy."

The agency said the confirmed number of infections in Nigeria had now risen to 36, with cases registered in largest city Lagos, the capital Abuja and four other states. 

Africa has so far registered lower numbers than the rest of the globe with around 1,500 confirmed cases and 50 deaths -- but testing has been patchy. 

Nigeria has closed down all international flights for a month and shut schools and restricted gatherings in a string of regions in a bid to curb the spread of the virus. 

The country of 190 million people is seen as highly vulnerable to the spread of infectious diseases given its weak healthcare system and high population density. 

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