Gaza City, Aug 26 (AP) Gaza health officials have reported the first death from COVID-19 since authorities detected community transmission of the coronavirus earlier this week.

A wider outbreak in the blockaded territory, which is home to 2 million Palestinians, could be catastrophic. The health infrastructure has been strained by years of conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza.

Also Read | Kim Jong Un Alive? North Korea Shares Image As He ‘Meets Officials to Warn of Typhoon Bavi, COVID-19’.

The Health Ministry says the deceased was a 61-year-old man who had been put on life support and died during his transfer to a special isolation center.

The ministry said nine new local cases were detected Wednesday, raising the total to 15.

Also Read | Israel, Lebanon on Brink of 2006-Like War? Netanyahu Warns of ‘Forceful Response’ After Border Skirmish; 10 Points on The Latest Flashpoint.

Authorities have reported more than 100 cases and a fatality since March, but until this week they were all linked to quarantine centers for returning travelers. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)