

Illustration photo: EPA-EFE/MASSIMO PERCOSSI



A 66-year-old woman with a history of heart disease died on Wednesday in Pirogov hospital in Sofia as a consequence of coronavirus – the first officially confirmed fatal victim of the illness in Bulgaria. Her 74-year-old husband is in the same hospital and also diagnosed with coronavirus, but is in a relatively stable condition.

Bulgaria has so far confirmed seven cases coronavirus – one of which was the woman who died on Wednesday.

The first four cases in Bulgaria were reported on March 8, two in Gabrovo and two in Pleven.

The condition of these patients is currently good, the authorities have said.

On Wednesday, the authorities confirmed another case, a woman doctor who had recently travelled and been tested for the virus. Her condition is also good, the authorities said.

The first coronavirus death in Bulgaria follows news of the first fatality in Albania as well. The Albanian health ministry reported that a pensioner from the port city of Durres had died of complications after being infected by the coronavirus.

In Italy, the European hotspot, the number of cases has risen to about 10,000. But numbers are climbing fast elsewhere, too – to almost 500 in the UK and about 1,000 in the US. Belgium and Ireland recorded their first fatalities on Wednesday.