National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) Spokesperson, Mabrouk Azeez has confirmed that three individuals who recently departed on an Indian naval vessel had tested positive for COVID-19.

Indian news outlet, Times of India reported on Wednesday that two people who went from the Maldives on the Indian naval ship to Tamilnadu state of Trichinopoly tested positive for COVID-19. They were confirmed positive upon testing after the vessel returned to India.

Responding to questions regarding the matter at a press conference of the NEOC, Spokesperson Mohamed Mabrook Abdul Aziz said that they have not received any information on the matter through any formal channels.

However, at the NEOC press conference tonight, Mabrook said that official channels have confirmed that three people that went to India have tested positive for COVID-19.

He said that all three are people who were working at Bison Maldives but it is unclear which Bison store they were working at since the company has various outlets in the islands as well.

Mabrook said that the Foreign Ministry is currently working to verify more information about the people in question.

The Indian government has sent three naval ships to return their citizens in the Maldives back to India. And all three returned to the country with about 1500 people.