President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has declared Aarah, the country's presidential island retreat, a quarantine zone for suspected coronavirus cases.

Aarah is an island nearby the capital city that has been used as a presidential retreat since former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's regime.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday at the President's office, Minister of Tourism Ali Waheed stated that the government is currently taking all the necessary preventative measures linked to the rapid outbreak of novel coronavirus, coming out of China.

Highlighting that a special task force including cabinet ministers was formed following the news of the outbreak, the minister stated that a treatment guideline for suspected coronavirus cases has been established. As such, the minister revealed that Aarah was President Solih's first suggestion for a quarantine facility.

The minister further revealed that quarantine facilities have been set up at nearby Funadhoo island, Phase 2 of Hulhumale' City and at Aarah.

Currently, there are three people being kept under observation at the quarantine facility at Funadhoo on suspicion of the coronavirus infection. While the Minister of Health recently stated that all three suspected cases are no longer showing symptoms, test results of samples sent to India have yet to confirm whether these individuals.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global emergency following the novel coronavirus outbreak originating from China.