TAIPEI, Feb. 16 (CNA) - A patient in Taiwan has died from COVID-19, marking the first such death on the island since the epidemic spread from mainland China.

Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said during a news conference on Sunday (Feb 16) that the deceased person was a man in his 60s who had not travelled abroad recently and had diabetes and Hepatitis B.

This was the first fatality in Taiwan, where there are 20 confirmed cases.