The Maldives government has confirmed that a local has been tested positive for the highly-contagious COVID-19 virus. This is the first time a Maldivian national has tested positive for the virus. The 13 previously confirmed cases in the country are all foreigners. Nine have made full recoveries.

Health Minister Abdulla Ameen stated that a Maldivian who had arrived from the UK on March 21 has tested positive for the virus.

The person was placed in quarantine on Holiday Island Resort on March 22, according to SunOnline International. IGMH doctor Ali Latheef stated that the person was kept in quarantine since arriving from the UK, as per government procedure to place all arrivals in the country in quarantine as a safety measure, and began to exhibit symptoms of the virus on March 25.

A Maldivian national in UAE was previously tested positive for the virus, as reported by The Khaleej Times. The news was later confirmed by the UAE authorities as well.