2nd virus death in France, 1 new infection linked to Italy

French lab scientists in hazmat gear inserting liquid in test tube manipulate potentially infected patient samples at Pasteur Institute in Paris, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. Scientists at the Pasteur Institute developed and shared a quick test for the new virus that is spreading worldwide, and are using genetic information about the coronavirus to develop a potential vaccine and treatments. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) (Francois Mori, Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

PARIS – A 60-year-old Frenchman has died of the new virus in a Paris hospital, the second virus-related death in France since it emerged in China late last year.

The head of France's national health service, Jerome Salomon, made the announcement Wednesday, but didn't say where the man contracted the virus or provide other details.

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The man was among three new cases of the virus announced in France on Wednesday.

One of the others was a 36-year-old man who had made repeated trips to the Italian region of Lombardy, but he doesn't have any severe symptoms, Salomon said.

The other is a Frenchman in the northern city of Amiens who is in intensive care, and an investigation is underway into where and how he contracted the virus, Salamon said.

France is stepping up restrictions on people who have traveled from neighboring Italy after a new outbreak of the virus there.

France has reported 17 cases of the virus, including two deaths. The first death was an 80-year-old tourist from China.

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Full AP coverage of the virus outbreak can be found here: https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak