Mauritius has declared victory in the battle against coronavirus but says it has not yet won the war, the AFP news agency reports quoting the health minister.

Health Minister Kailesh Jagutpal is quoted as saying that there are zero active coronavirus cases in the country and no new cases had been reported in 17 days.

He said:Quote Message: We have won the battle thanks to the cooperation of the public, who understood that the government needed to take extreme measures, including complete confinement, and the closure of supermarkets and our borders.

We have won the battle thanks to the cooperation of the public, who understood that the government needed to take extreme measures, including complete confinement, and the closure of supermarkets and our borders.Quote Message: But we have not yet won the war. Let’s remain vigilant.”

But we have not yet won the war. Let’s remain vigilant.”

In total, the island nation has had 332 cases and 10 deaths. It was among the first in Africa to impose a total lockdown.

The government is however urging people to continue taking precautions even as it maintains some of the restrictive measures.

A few essential stores will be allowed to reopen from Friday but markets will stay shut, AFP reports.

Schools will also remain closed until August, beaches will remain off limits and weddings and funerals can only be attended by 10 people.

The country's parliament is debating two pieces of legislation, the Covid-19 Bill and the Quarantine Bill, which are designed to help the country get back on track