Trinidad and Tobago is reporting its first confirmed imported case of novel coronavirus COVID-19.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh disclosed that a patient had tested positive for the virus this afternoon.

The patient is a 52-year-old man.

The man  flew into the country from Switzerland on Monday and self-isolated even before he began experiencing symptoms, said National Security Minister Stuart Young.

By Wednesday, the man began experiencing symptoms and his family contacted health authorities.

A test was done and at 2.45pm and it was confirmed.

Contact tracing, which involves locating all the people the patient was in contact with, is underway, and national security is supporting the effort.

All the passengers on the patient’s flight are being contacted.