The 66-year-old retired professor who was hospitalised with coronavirus at the University Hospital of Patras in Rio, has passed away, Greek City Times reported.

The patient developed symptoms of pneumonia as soon as he returned from a trip to the Holy Land.

Several of his fellow travellers were also infected and are either in hospital or in containment at home.

Since the 2nd March, he was placed in isolation at the University Hospital of Patras.

In recent days his health condition deteriorated, and on Thursday morning he died of multi-organ failure.

His death is the first to be attributed to the novel coronavirus in Greece.

According to Health Ministry spokesman Sotirios Tsiodras, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases currently stands at 99. Of the total infected, 95 are of Greek origin and 4 are of foreign nationality.