Photo/Illutration Officials of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases attend a task force meeting on the coronavirus outbreak at the Hokkaido prefectural government building on Feb. 25. (Toru Saito)

HAKODATE, Hokkaido Prefecture--Officials on Feb. 26 here confirmed Hokkaido's first death due to COVID-19.

An elderly resident who died in the city on Feb. 25 afterward tested positive for the coronavirus, city officials announced.

The Japanese national had no record of traveling overseas recently.

The victim’s identity, including gender and age, has been withheld at the request of the deceased's family.

The deceased sought treatment at a medical institution on Feb. 17, exhibiting symptoms of pneumonia, and was later admitted to another hospital.

But after developing a fever, the victim developed severe breathing difficulties and died on Feb. 25.