Fourteen countries do not record infections or deaths from the coronavirus; twelve are islands – Telam

The island of Saint Helena, where Napoleon was confined almost two centuries ago, is one of the infection-free states.

As most of the world continues to fight the spread of the coronavirus and its newer variants, which have infected nearly 106 million people and killed more than 2.3 million people, the World Health Organization (WHO ) reported this Sunday that there are 14 countries where the disease never reached.

According to a report revealed by the United Nations (UN) health agency, 12 of the 14 coronavirus-free countries correspond to islands or islets thousands of kilometers from the coast that have implemented very strict policies from the start and have chosen to close. The world favored by their geographic position.

This is the case with Islas Cook, made up of 15 small South Pacific islands more than 3,000 kilometers from New Zealand, has enforced mandatory quarantine and a temporary ban on ships in their ports, including cruise ships.

The situation is similar in American Samoa, which a year ago closed the borders even to residents who were abroad, until two weeks ago they allowed islanders to enter.

Was also saved Narau, the third smallest country in the world near Kiribati and very poor, with the largest number of overweight people in the world and a life expectancy of less than 50 years.

PalauFor its part, made up of 300 islands and close to the Philippines, in addition to not having recorded any case of coronavirus, it could be one of the first countries in the world to vaccinate the entire population.

In Santa Elena, British territory in the Atlantic Ocean and one of the most remote places in the world, located more than 1,800 kilometers from Angola, they imposed levies to enter and leave the island.

WHO

According to the report drawn up by the WHO a year after the start of the pandemic and replicated by the ANSA agency, the other two countries that have not recorded cases or deaths due to the disease are North Korea and Turkmenistan, but experts doubt the accuracy of your health data and the willingness to make it public.

North Korean President Kim Jong Un imposed strict restrictions on the population, which further affected an economic situation already in critical condition.

In addition, for some, the fact that it borders China and South Korea makes the absence of coronavirus cases unlikely.