Mongolia reports first COVID-19 case

A French national has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, becoming the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Mongolia, the State Emergency Commission said on Tuesday.

"The patient is a French national aged 57, who arrived in the capital city of Ulan Bator on March 2," Ulziisaikhan Enkhtuvshin, head of the commission, said at a press conference, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Initially, the man was screened and not tested positive for COVID-19. But, he began to develop a fever on Saturday," said Enkhtuvshin. "He was then tested for COVID-19 and preliminary tests were deemed to be positive."

The patient is now in the country's southeastern Dornogovi Province, he added, urging the public to be vigilant and follow hygiene rules. IANS