DUBAI: The UAE reported the first deaths due to the coronavirus in the country on Friday.
The victims were two men - a 78-year old Arab and a 58-year-old Asian, the health ministry said.
The ministry added that the Arab man had entered the country from Europe and died due to a heart attack which coincided with being infected with the virus.
The Asian man was a UAE resident who suffered from several chronic diseases such as heart disease and liver failure.
In its statement, the ministry expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and also stressed that both cases received the required medical care in the country’s hospitals.
It also said that current research suggests the percentage of fatalities could reach up to 3.6, and that there could be an increase among the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UAE stands at 140, with 32 recoveries.
