ANTANANARIVO (XINHUA) - Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth confirmed the first three cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday (March 18) evening during an urgent press briefing.

Jugnauth said that two of the infected people were on a cruise ship and the third one returned from Britain, adding that all the three now remain in quarantine at a hospital in Souillac.

"We are in a state of emergency," the prime minister said.

Jugnauth also said that all passengers - Mauritians or foreigners, will be prohibited from entering Mauritian territory for the next 14 days.