A 12-year-old girl has died after testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) in Belgium the youngest victim of the invisible killer disease in Europe.
Dr Emmanuel Andre, a government spokesman in Belgium, said the death of somebody so young “is a very rare occurrence” and the tragedy “shook us”. Belgium has now imposed its coronavirus lockdown restrictions to continue until 12 April.
Mr Andre said it was “an emotionally difficult moment, because it involves a child, and it has also upset the medical and scientific community.”
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He added: “We are thinking of her family and friends. It is an event that is very rare, but one which upsets us greatly.”
Spokesman Steven Van Gucht said the girl had a fever for three days before her death and tested positive for coronavirus.
No other details of the girl have been provided.
A total of 98 people have died of the disease in the last 24 hours, bringing Belgium’s total death toll to 705 from the (COVID-19) virus.
Mr Andre said officials expect the spread of the disease to reach its peak in coming days and that “we will arrive at a point where we’re close to saturation point at our hospitals.”
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