The isolated Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan said on Friday it has banned the entry of tourists for two weeks after it confirmed the first case of the coronavirus.
The infected person, a US national, entered from the neighbouring country of India and he has been put in quarantine in a hospital in the capital, Thimphu.
As per the ministry, the 76-year old arrived on March 2 and was admitted to a hospital on March 5 after reporting high fever and was tested positive for the COVID-19 there. The patient, whose name is unknown, had left Washington on February 10 and had been touring India from February 21 to March 1.
Approximately 90 have come in contact with the patient in Bhutan and all of them are being placed in quarantine, including his driver, guide and 59-year-old partner.
Schools in three areas —including the capital Thimphu — will be closed for two weeks from Friday.
Eight Indian nationals who were on the flight to Bhutan have also been quarantined.
More than 3,000 people have died from novel coronavirus, with nearly 100,000 confirmed infections globally.
