Libya’s first Coronavirus case confirmed last night

By Sami Zaptia.

London, 25 March 2020:

Libya’s first Coronavirus (Covid19) case was confirmed late last night by the Health Minister of the internationally recognized government in Tripoli. He gave little details about the case and did not reveal his name.

However, the head of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Badr Al-Din Al-Najar, said in a later televised statement that the patient was a 73-year-old man who had returned from a visit to Saudi Arabia on 5 March. The man hailed from the western Libyan town of Aljmail.

He revealed that the patient had a high temperature, respiratory infection and shortness of breath upon medical examination in a Tripoli hospital.

Najar said the patient was in isolation and is now in a stable condition. He confirmed that the NCDC was conducting its follow-up procedures and tracing all those who the patient had interacted with since his return to Libya.

Meanwhile, the Tripoli war continues with another night of heavy fighting reported overnight – in total violation and disregard for the humanitarian pause called for by the international community and UNSMIL – and agreed to by the two fighting parties.