In a statement, the IGC said that the elderly man had several chronic health problems, including a long history of cancer, and was confirmed infected in contact tracing after a family member tested positive.

′′ The family requested permission for the man to do home therapeutic isolation, but the man eventually died on June 07 The funeral will be held according to covid-19 protocols ", it said.

In the same statement, the IGC said that it has recorded 98 new infections in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of active cases to 2,115 with 214 recoveries.

Among the new infections are five Catholic nuns from Cailaku, Bobonaro, with two of the unidentified nuns evacuated by air on Tuesday to Vera Cruz health centre in Dili because of breathing difficulties, said Odete Viegas da Silva the Coordinator of COVID-19 taskforce.

“The (nuns) condition is not serious but as result of their age they suffered serious fever and were finding it hard to breath,” said Odette when asked about the air evacuation and their condition. 

Joao Cardoso, the Director of Health Service for Bobonaro Municipality, said isolation facilities were “good” in Bobonaro to prevent further spread of the coronavirus, but the municipality lacked medical oxygen to help people with breathing issues.