Coronavirus has touched every corner of the

globe, but these countries have reported no

cases
By Max Walden
Posted Thu 12 Nov 2020 at 1:06pm , updated Thu 12 Nov 2020 at 3:00pm

Several Pacific island countries have recently lost their COVID-free status. (AP: Ted S.
Warren)

The Pacific nation of Vanuatu only this week recorded its first case of COVID-19 — joining the vast
majority of the world's countries that have been affected by the virus.

An asymptomatic man returned from the United Key points:

States, which has recorded upwards of 10 million
cases of coronavirus, before testing positive in Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and
Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, on Tuesday. Marshall Islands have all recently reported
cases
The neighbouring Solomon Islands and Marshall
Islands recorded their first COVID-19 infections North Korea and Turkmenistan both
last month, but have not yet seen cases of dubiously claim to be COVID-free
community transmission.
There are seven countries in Australia's
More than 50 million people worldwide have neighbourhood believed to still be free of
been infected with coronavirus and more than coronavirus
one million have lost their lives.

Here's a look at the lucky countries who are still (or claim to be) COVID-free.
 LIVE UPDATES: Read our blog for the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Turkmenistan
The Government of Turkmenistan claims not to have detected any COVID-19 cases at all.

This is despite the fact neighbouring Iran has recorded more than 715,000 coronavirus cases to date and
around 40,000 deaths.

What's more, the Global Health Security Index, released by John Hopkins University in 2019, ranked
Turkmenistan's health system 147th out of 156 countries in terms of preparedness to mitigate the spread
of an epidemic.

Turkmenistan's COVID-free status is therefore more likely a symptom of the country's repressive policies
than the truth.

The autocratic President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov — who gained international notoriety last year
for doing doughnuts next to a flaming crater to prove he was not dead — has made sure discussion of
coronavirus is heavily censored.

Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has been accused of prioritising the Turkmenistan's

eputation over public health. (Sputnik Via Reuters)

While there have been more reported deaths from respiratory conditions in 2020 than usual, authorities
have blamed dust and air pollution.

Access to the country is limited, but World Health Organization (WHO) officials were permitted to travel
there in July.

"WHO is aware of several sources reporting alleged COVID-19 transmission in the country, and is
concerned about reports of increasing acute respiratory infections and pneumonia," its report said.
Deputy Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, Rachel Denber, said in September:
"Turkmenistan's Government has prioritised the country's image over people's wellbeing."

How fast is coronavirus growing around the world?

Cumulative known cases

since 100th case
US
10M
India
Brazil

Russia
UK
1M Mexico

Sweden
Japan
100k China

S. Korea
Australia

10k

NZ

1k
Taiwan

100
0 50 100 150 200 250 300

Days since 100th case

Data sources: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, Our World in Data, The COVID Tracking Project, ABC

North Korea
An even more closed-off and totalitarian society than Turkmenistan, North Korea has also reported no
cases of COVID-19.
North Korea-watchers say most people are wearing masks in Pyongyang to stop the
spread of coronavirus. (Kyodo Via Reuters)

This is despite having a 1,420 kilometre border with its ally and closest trade partner China, where the
virus was first detected and at least 92,000 cases have been recorded.

Neighbouring South Korea has seen more than 27,000 infections.

Experts have widely disputed that it's possible the North has no cases whatsoever.

North Korea was one of the first countries to shut its borders, barring foreign tourists in January and
halting all flights in and out.

The Government in February indicated borders would not reopen until a cure was found. It has also
mandated masks and restricted public gatherings.

In July, it looked as though the North's first case had emerged after somebody crossed the border from
South Korea and authorities have repeatedly shut down the border city of Kaesong.

But a WHO situation report from North Korea from October 29 said there had been zero cases reported
from 10,462 tests conducted — a very low number for a country of more than 25 million.

However, some 5,368 people were suspected COVID patients, the WHO said.

Pacific island nations

With their relatively weak healthcare systems, a number of Pacific nations have enforced strict
limitations on who is allowed to cross their borders since the pandemic began.
The geographical isolation of Pacific island nations has been a positive factor in
avoiding COVID. (Supplied: World Health Organization)

As a result, Nauru, Tonga, Kiribati, Micronesia, Palau, Samoa and Tuvalu are the remaining countries not
to have reported any COVID cases.

The WHO has reported 18,337 cases across the entire Pacific since the pandemic began — fewer than in
the state of Victoria.

While Pacific nations' geography makes them vulnerable to climate change, it is a unique advantage in a
deadly pandemic.

Their isolation has made shutting off borders to the rest of the world relatively easy.

For example, even after Vanuatu was struck by a major cyclone in April, it did not allow foreign aid
workers to disembark for response efforts.

Nevertheless, it has taken a toll on their largely tourism-dependent economies.

A new report by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) this week warned
of an impending food crisis in the Pacific caused by the pandemic.

"Food systems were already under pressure. COVID-19 has exposed and exacerbated those pressures,"
said ACIAR CEO Professor Andrew Campbell.

"The pandemic is threatening to morph from a health crisis to a food crisis. Women and girls are among
the most severely affected groups, and the most at risk from worsening food security."

Australia has boosted its economic support to the region, with the Morrison Government allocating
more than $300 million in the Budget to provide economic assistance to recover from the pandemic.

The Government pledged a further $500 million late last month to ensure a "fast, safe vaccine rollout in
the Pacific and South-East Asia".
What you need to know about coronavirus:
Who needs to wear a face mask in Victoria and when
The symptoms
The number of cases in Australia
Global cases, deaths and testing rates
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