written by Dr. Stephen A. Berger
If you search the Internet for countries which have reported COVID-19, an endless variety of sources will describe the status of this disease in 207 countries and their dependencies. Few if any of these sites mention countries where this disease does not exist!
As of April 19, GIDEON lists twenty-four countries (10.4% of the global total) that had not yet encountered a single case. Ironically, at this point, these countries enjoy a form of “medical isolation” – thanks to the disease itself! The chance that a traveler – let alone an infected traveler – can arrive in a new country is vanishingly-small because the idea of international travel has been erased by COVID-19.
In most cases, countries that are not reporting COVID-19 cases have instituted travel restrictions, surveillance and preventive measures (masks, social distancing, etc). Several Pacific Island Nations listed below are geographically isolated, lack sufficient medical resources, and enforce similar forms of restriction and enforcement.
The approach of two European countries – Tajikistan and Turkmenistan – is notably different. Although Tajikistan enforces restricted travel and quarantine for arriving travelers, large public gatherings and sporting events are not restricted. Face masks, though not required, are commonly seen in the streets. In contrast, a report by Reporters Without Borders stated that Turkmenistan had banned the use of the word “coronavirus” and that people wearing masks could be arrested. Nonetheless, Turkmenistan does ascribe an absence of COVID-19 cases to strict enforcement of travel restrictions and announced in early April that all citizens will be tested for the virus.
A seeming absence of COVID-19 in North Korea has led to considerable speculation and even conspiracy theories. The fact that this country shares a border with China would suggest that infected individuals are likely to have entered the country; however, North Korea did impose closure of the border at an early stage of the Chinese outbreak, and imposes strict control, surveillance, and quarantine over potential cases.
Countries Which Have Not Reported COVID-19 (as of April 19)
– Travel bans enforced including restrictions on incoming aircraft
– Has physically refused entry to approaching cruise ships
– State of Emergency declared
– No additional information available
American Samoa
Christmas Island
Cook Islands
Kiribati
Lesotho
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Nauru
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Palau
Pitcairn Island
Saint Helena
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tajikistan
Tokelau
Tonga
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Wallis and Futuna Islands
Wake Island
Update: Posted in ProMED