Earlier, the ministry said it was tracing more than 5,000 Malaysians believed to have participated in the gathering after Brunei alerted them that its first case of Covid-19 had attended the mass gathering.

Members of the tabligh, a loose group of Muslim missionaries, hold their weekly congregation there.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the 131st case, a 60-year-old Malaysian man, had attended the gathering and was tested positive for the virus on March 10.

“He has already been isolated in an isolation ward and is currently receiving treatment,” Noor said in a Facebook post tonight.

He advised those who had attended the gathering to swiftly contact their nearest district health office or Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre to avoid further spread of the disease.

Earlier today, he said an estimated 10,000 participants from various countries were also present at the gathering.

When contacted by FMT on the specific nationalities, he said the ministry was investigating the matter.