Taiwan's Health Minister, Chen Shih-chung, on Wednesday reported the island had confirmed its first case of the South African variant of the coronavirus.

The people had been to Taiwan's only African ally country Eswatini.

Eswatini was formerlly known as Swaziland.

Starting Thursday, anyone who has been in Eswatini in the past 14 days must undergo quarantine and testing in a central government facility.