Vanuatu reported on Wednesday its first confirmed COVID-19 case, who is a 23-year-old man.
According to a statement by Vanuatu's Ministry of Health on Wednesday, the man arrived in the island nation on Nov. 4 from the United States, via Sydney and Auckland. He, who was asymptomatic, was confirmed with COVID-19 on Tuesday during routine day 5 testing while in quarantine in Port Vila, capital of Vanuatu.
Vanuatu's Prime Minister Bob Loughman said on Wednesday that contact tracing was underway and all close contacts of the man would be put into quarantine.
He stressed that there was no need for a lockdown at this stage but people are advised to be on high vigilant.
In March this year, Vanuatu closed its borders to prevent the virus from entering the island nation but it allowed in strictly controlled repatriation flights recently.
