Major General Abdullah Samal, the chief of Maldives National Defense Forces (MNDF), has tested positive for COVID-19, Rajje Tv reported. 

Issuing a statement on Sunday, the MNDF said the chief developed symptoms on Saturday and his test result came positive on Sunday. Earlier, many officers of the forces were tested positive as they were deployed on the frontline. 

Authorities have contacted all the people who came in close contact with him. The statement also said the defense chief had neither attended any social gathering nor traveled abroad in recent days. 

The MDNF also created isolation centres for its personnel deployed on the frontline.