Eight teenagers have tested positive for Covid-19 in Italy after returning to the country from a week-long holiday in Malta, Italian media reported on Sunday.

Italian media reported that the boys, who are aged between 17 and 19, returned to Italy and developed flu symptoms on 7 August.

The report indicated that contact tracing for the eight is now underway, however early indications are that exposure to others was limited.

It is not the first report of cases of Covid-19 being imported into Italy from Malta.

Last Thursday, the Corriere dell Umbria reported that a 27-year-old had returned from a holiday in Malta, developed symptoms and tested positive for the virus.

The media outlet reported that the suspicion is that the man had contracted the virus while in Malta.