Montreal man, 19, dies from complications linked to coronavirus

A 19-year-old man has died in Quebec as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, a spokesperson for the Montreal public health department confirmed Friday.

The case marks the first time someone under the age of 20 has died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, in the province since the pandemic began.

The victim has been identified to Global News as Don Béni Kabangu Nsapu by a friend. He lived in Montreal.

Quebec’s Health and Social Services Ministry said the victim died as a result of complications from COVID-19. No other information about the circumstances of the young Montrealer’s death was provided due to privacy laws.

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Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu offered her condolences to the victim’s family Friday.

“It’s hard to find words for how much suffering that family must be going through right now,” she told reporters.

Since the beginning of the health crisis, the majority of Quebec victims of COVID-19 have been seniors.

However, a spokesperson for the health and social services ministry confirmed 3,729 people between the ages of 10 and 19 have been diagnosed with COVID-19. To date, 31 youths in that age range have been hospitalized and six of them were in intensive care.

Quebec, which has been the province hardest hit by the virus, has seen more than 5,700 deaths since March. To date, there have been 61,495 cases, the highest in the country.

Montreal has been the epicentre of virus’s outbreak in Canada, accounting for more than half of the province’s deaths at 3,464 fatalities as of Thursday. There have been more than 29,000 infections reported in Montreal to date.

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— With files from Global News’ Amanda Jelowicki and the Canadian Press