The reportedly first fatality among health workers amid the novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan occurred to a retired doctor who was not involved in the treatment of infected patients, according to the Health Commission of Hubei province.

Liang Wudong, 62, died at about 7 am on Saturday. Earlier Chinese media reports suggested that he died while working in the hospital.

However, the commission said in a later release that Liang was a former doctor who worked with the otolaryngology department that treats conditions in the ear, nose and throat at Hubei Xinhua Hospital in Wuhan. He had retired earlier last year.

Liang sought treatment at the hospital he had worked for as a regular patient on Jan 16. He was suspected of contracting the new virus, and was transferred to Hubei Jinyintan Hospital on Jan 18, which has received the majority of infected patients.

He had suffered from heart disease before being infected with the new virus, according to the commission.