Libyans chant slogans during the celebrations of the 9th anniversary of the Libyan revolution in Tripoli, Libya, on Feb. 17, 2020. (Photo by Amru Salahuddien/Xinhua)
The Higher Committee to Combat the Corona Epidemic of Libya's eastern-based government on Tuesday announced the first COVID-19 case in eastern Libya.
In a press conference in the eastern city Benghazi, the Committee said the patient is a 55-year-old man who came to Libya from Turkey 20 days ago.
On Monday, the Tripoli-based National Center for Disease Control of the UN-backed government said the total cases in the country is 19, including one death and one recovery.
The country announced on Thursday the first death from COVID-19, an 85-year-old woman who was diagnosed with the disease.
Libyan authorities have taken a series of measures against the COVID-19, including closing airports, border crossings, mosques and educational institutions, banning mass gatherings and movements among cities, and imposing a curfew.
On March 24, Libya announced its first COVID-19 case in a 73-year-old man who returned from Saudi Arabia.