First coronavirus death outside mainland China reported in Philippines

A 44-year-old Chinese man in the Philippines is the first to die from the coronavirus outside of China.

People wearing protective masks pass a quarantine area for people with symptoms of the new virus outside a private hospital in Manila. Source: AP

The Philippines has reported the first death from the coronavirus outside of mainland China.

The patient, a 44-year-old Chinese man, died on Saturday after being confined since 25 January, Health Secretary Francisco Duque told local media.

The man is the companion of the first case of the virus in the Philippines, a 38-year-old Chinese woman.

"Over the course of the patient's admission, he developed severe pneumonia," Mr Duque told a press conference.

Health officials in the country confirmed the Philippines' first death from the virus - the first outside mainland China. Source: AP

"In his last few days, the patient was stable and showed signs of improvement, however, the condition of the patient deteriorated within his last 24 hours resulting in his demise," he added.

The couple, both from Wuhan, China, arrived in the Philippines from Hong Kong on 21 January.

They are the only confirmed cases in the Philippines so far.

Passengers arrive at Sydney International Airport. Australia this week announced a tough new border program to stop the spread of the virus. Source: Getty Images

In China, health authorities estimate more than 3,00 people have now been infected.

The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in China had reached 304 as of the end of Saturday, state broadcaster CCTV said on Sunday, citing the country's National Health Commission.