First COVID-19 case

First Covid case detected on tiny Pitcairn Islands

The tiny island group of about 40 residents had managed to remain infection-free by completely closing itself off to visitors.

Border restrictions, imposed in March 2020, began easing from April.

One of the island's residents who left for medical treatment tested positive on their return.

The Times UK reports the patient is isolating - along with those they travelled with.

The Pitcairn Islands, which are to the east of French Polynesia, are a British overseas territory administered from New Zealand.

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The person had also tested negative three times, but tested positive on Day 21 of quarantine, the government said.

But it said this case has a low risk of infecting others.

Health official Gaafar J. Uherbelau said the patient is isolated and contact tracing underway.

He said those who had been in contact with the patient, including travel companions, had been placed in quarantine.

So far close contacts who had been tested have returned negative results, Uherbelau said.

Additional contact tracing will continue, he said.