Coronavirus: Girl, 12, becomes youngest known person to die in Europe

Authorities said she is by far the youngest among more than 700 victims in the country.

National crisis centre spokesman Emmanuel Andre said it is ‘an emotionally difficult moment, because it involves a child, and it has also upset the medical and scientific community’.

‘We are thinking of her family and friends. It is an event that is very rare, but one which upsets us greatly.’

He said 98 people had died from the disease over the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 705 in a country of around 11.5 million people. More than 12,705 cases have been confirmed.

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