Authorities have revealed that 29 individuals have been asked to isolate themselves at home after being identified as contacts of the first Maldivian patient of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19).

Speaking to press on Monday night, the government’s Covid-19 spokesperson, Mabrook Aziz revealed that contact tracing had been done in the case of the first Maldivian patient, identified as the 16th Covid-19 patient, and 29 individuals were identified as close contacts.

The Maldivian was in quarantine when he tested positive for the infection after returning from the United Kingdom on 22 March. The person had not shown symptoms up until 25 March, said authorities.

The Maldivian’s test results came in on 27 March and the second Maldivian tested positive on 29 March.

The second Maldivian, patient 17 is also to have tested positive during quarantine, after returning from UK.

48 individuals were identified as contacts of patient 17 and five have been asked to isolate themselves since. Three of them have been quarantined at facilities and two at home.

Further, samples have also been taken from an individual who patient 17 shared a room with in quarantine, said Mabrook.

Thus far, 1,093 samples have been taken out of which 1,065 have tested negative and results are pending for 11 samples.

As of Monday there have been 17 positive cases in the Maldives out of which 13 have recovered. 15 of the patients currently remain in Maldives, with the two additional patients currently quarantined in Moscow, Russia. They are two Italian nationals and authorities received their test results after they had departed from Maldives on Friday.

The first two cases emerged from Kuredu Island Resort after an Italian tourist who vacationed there tested positive after returning home. Since then, the most cases have been reported from Kuredu, totaling five and then two each from Sandies Bathala, Kuramathi and Anantara Dhigu with four cases being reported from Island Safari 1.