A death from the new variant of COVID-19 was recorded at the Mongi Slim Hospital in the capital Tunis, reported Tunis Afrique Presse quoting a senior Tunisian health official.
The deceased man, in his 70s, had tested negative before the new variant was detected, according to Hechmi Louzir, a member of Tunisian scientific committee for the fight against the Coronavirus.
“We cannot prove that the new strain is the direct cause of his death,” Louzir said, stressing that the man was suffering from cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
He added that the same variant was also detected in a young man aged 17 in Oued Ellil in Mannouba province, who had no symptoms.
Louzir also explained that this new variant was detected in Tunisia during the second week of February.
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