Kabul: Afghanistan’s health ministry has reported the country’s first confirmed death from the coronavirus. A 40-year old man died in the northern Balkh province, Ministry of Public Health spokesman Wahidullah Mayar said.

Afghanistan has 34 confirmed cases of the virus, with 10 more positive cases found on Sunday, and there are fears its vulnerable health system, devastated by years of war, would be overwhelmed by an outbreak.

Meanwhile,: President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani chaired a videoconference to assess the COVID-19 outbreak in western Herat province, a statement from the presidential palace said.  President Ghani has ordered preparations for dealing with any emergency situation, hinting at changes in the budget in case of need. 

Ferozuddin Feroz, health minister, said two MPs are also among the suspected cases with the novel virus.
Herat has the highest number of cases in the west of the country due to its border with Iran and the return of hundreds of thousands of immigrants. According to the Ministry of Health, at least 10,000 migrants return to Herat daily from Iran to move onwards to their native provinces.
Minister Ferouz said the number of people infected with the coronavirus would increase dramatically in the coming weeks if the situation persisted. He stressed some cities need to be quarantined. He urged the owners of restaurants, parks, swimming pools, public baths to stop operating.