The spread of the coronavirus took us all by surprise, and the speed at which it has spread around the world is alarming. So much so, that it is almost difficult to believe that some countries have escaped the pandemic for now. As of May 19, 2020, there are only 12 countries out of the 197 that exist that have not confirmed any cases of COVID-19 , most of them in Oceania. In this article we show you which are these countries in the world where the coronavirus has not reached.
What are the 12 countries in the world where the coronavirus has not reached?
North Korea
North Korea was the first country to close its borders, and therefore it is logical that it is one of the countries in the world where the coronavirus has not reached. As China’s neighbor, the country closed its borders on January 21 and has not reopened them since . Then he implemented strict measures for those who entered the country (foreigners and nationals) including a quarantine of one month or two months.
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is a Central Asian country bordering Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, all of them countries with reports of coronavirus infections. Most land borders were closed more than a month ago, and in early February Turkmenistan canceled many flights , including all those to and from China.
The Solomon Islands
Located in Oceania, they have the advantage of being one of the least visited countries in the world, which would explain why it is one of the few countries where the coronavirus has not reached. Although it is easily accessible from nearby countries with direct flights from Sydney or New Guinea, since the beginning of February the Solomon Islands require a medical certificate to allow entry , and travelers entering from infected countries require a 14-day quarantine.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu has no reported cases and since February has applied strict policies for those arriving from abroad. Those traveling from infected countries are unauthorized or have to undergo quarantine, and all must present a medical certificate.
Samoa
Samoa has been confined since March 25 , the state of emergency remains in force and all international travel in and out of the country has been suspended.
Kiribati
There are no cases in Kiribati, but a state of public emergency has been declared . Starting on March 30, schools closed for two weeks.
Federated States of Micronesia
Micronesia rushed to implement travel restrictions in early February , including comprehensive travel bans for those traveling from China and Chinese nationals.
Tonga
This small country in Oceania was made famous during the last 2016 Olympics thanks to its handsome and muscular flag bearer, who sparked praise during the opening parade for parading smeared in coconut oil. Four years later, Tonga is once again gaining fame thanks to the fact that it is one of the countries where the coronavirus has not reached because it has been strict with travel rules since February and has been in lockdown since March 29. 8 suspected cases were tested, but all came back negative.
The Marshall Islands
On March 21, it was reported that the only international flight connection with the Marshall Islands temporarily stopped working, so there is no way to reach the islands where there is not yet a single infected.
Palau
A person is currently being investigated for having a coronavirus after having traveled from Guam, however, but at the moment there are no infected.
Tuvalu
Often known as one of the least visited countries in the world, if not the least visited, Tuvalu receives fewer than 200 tourists a year . This has probably been a massive help in preventing an outbreak in this very sparsely populated country.
Nauru
Nauru, a country so small that it can be covered in a day, has also managed to stay free of coronavirus . Along with Tuvalu, it holds the record for being one of the least visited countries in the world.
