All outbound travel out of Vanuatu's main island, Efate, has been stopped for three days following confirmation of a COVID-19 case.
The positive case is a recently deceased Filipino fisherman whose body washed up on a beach near the capital Port Vila a week ago before it was taken to the local mortuary.
Radio NZ reports following the discovery of the body last week, a UK-flagged tanker was detained by Vanuatu authorities amid investigations over the death.
Vanuatu's Prime Minister Bob Loughman announced the confirmation of the positive case by health authorities at Port Vila Central Hospital.
He said the government was issuing the order to ban outbound travel from Efate for three days while contact tracing efforts were conducted.
Radio NZ reports a UK-flagged tanker has been detained by the Vanuatu Police Force and ports authorities in Port Vila amid investigations over the death of one of its member's crews.
16 people have been put in quarantine.
Most of them are Police officers who attended the scene when the body was discovered at Pango beach on Sunday 11 April.
The body of the Filipino is still at the mortuary at Vila Central.
Vanuatu has reported only three previous cases of Covid-19, all at the border.
[Source: RadioNZ]
