ANKARA 

The ambassador of Philippines to Lebanon died of the novel coronavirus on Thursday, an official statement confirmed.

"With deep sadness, the Department of Foreign Affairs announces the untimely demise on 2 April 2020, of Ambassador Bernardita Catalla, Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon, from complications arising from COVID-19," the Philippine’s Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Catalla, 62, who suffered from chronic respiratory problems, passed away at a hospital in Beirut where she was receiving treatment.

After surfacing in Wuhan, China last December, coronavirus has spread to 180 countries and regions. The global death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 47,000, with more than 938,000 cases confirmed worldwide, according to U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University. Over 194,000 have recovered from infections so far.