A Maldivian has been placed under quarantine after returning from China, as a precautionary measure against the rapidly spreading coronavirus.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said that the individual has been quarantined for a 14-day period, as per protocol as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Two locals that came home from China were released from quarantine on Tuesday. They were quarantined as per protocol as well on February 25, despite not showing symptoms.

Another two Maldivians that returned from Rome, Italy have been quarantined on Wednesday. While they returned in the morning, they will be monitored for 14 days.

China and Italy are among the five countries where Maldives has banned travellers from, as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus in the country; the remaining are, Iran, Bangladesh (from 10-24 March) and two regions from South Korea.

Maldives announced its first Covid-19 cases on Saturday, with two foreigner employees at a resort testing positive after contact with an Italian tourist who tested positive for the virus after holidaying in the country.

The circumstances on how the disease reached Maldives is questionable, with the government spokesperson saying that the above-mentioned tourist had stayed two days in the country’s capital after being removed from a flight over Covid-19 like symptoms. Authorities were not informed.

While the Prosecutor General has ordered a criminal investigation into this, police said that this work commenced on Tuesday.