Those affected include 13 people from the same household as a staff member, according to prime minister Keith Mitchell, quoted in The Washington Post.

The outbreak is a severe blow to the island, which had only recorded 45 cases since March.

Late last month, Grenada mandated that all arrivals must obtain a PCR negative test certificate within 72 hours of travelling.

Sandals told TTG the resort remained open “for guests to enjoy”, with quarantine measures “strictly enforced”.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we are not accepting new guests at this time and are working with them to accommodate their travel plans to another one of our resorts in the Caribbean region," a spokesperson said. "We will evaluate this policy in the coming days once findings are complete.”

Sandals said all those tested were asymptomatic and many were awaiting secondary test results, including two guests.

It added: “Our Sandals Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness are working as they should to immediately minimise risks for our valued guests and team members.”