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Teen's 'violent' deterioration before coronavirus death

A 16-year-old French girl has reportedly become the youngest victim of COVID-19 in Europe after suffering a “violent” deterioration in health.

The teenager – only identified as Julie A – suffered a “violent” decline in health after seeing a doctor last Sunday with minor symptoms, the New York Post reports.

Despite initial symptoms of a “slight cough”, according to her family, she was transported to Necker Children's Hospital in Paris after being diagnosed with coronavirus.

Her health quickly deteriorated and she died on Tuesday.

“It’s unbearable,” Sabine, the girl’s mother, told AFP.

“We were meant to have an ordinary life.”

The family said the 16-year-old had no existing health conditions and due to her age thought she wasn’t at severe risk of the virus.

“From the start, we were told that the virus doesn’t affect young people. We believed it, like everyone else,” Sabine told AFP.

France’s Director General of Health Jérôme Salomon said her death was “tragic” and “severe forms of the virus in the young are extremely rare”, according to The Local.

France in lockdown to stop COVID-19

France’s death told stands at more than 1600 after the coronavirus killed 365 people in 24 hours on Wednesday.

This figure does not include those who have died at home or in nursing homes, according to authorities.

The nation is in lockdown until April 15 in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Citizens are only allowed to leave their homes for essential activities, such as grocery shopping.

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