Topline
American Samoa recorded its first Covid-19 case of the pandemic Friday as a traveler from Hawaii examined constructive for the coronavirus upon arriving within the U.S. territory, taking itself off a dwindling checklist of nations and territories that haven’t reported any constructive Covid-19 circumstances to the World Well being Group (WHO) for the reason that pandemic started—listed here are the locations which can be nonetheless Covid-free:
Passengers bear temperature checks as they enter the Pyongyang Railway Station in Pyongyang on … [+]
Key Info
A lot of these islands have been helped by strict Covid-19 protocols which have severely restricted exterior guests, in addition to by being small islands with comparatively few guests and low inhabitants counts.
The biggest nations that haven’t reported any Covid-19 circumstances to the WHO are North Korea and Turkmenistan, although each of these nations are widely suspected to have had Covid-19 circumstances which have gone unreported.
A June report of a gathering wherein North Korean chief Kim Jong Un criticized officers for inflicting a coronavirus-related “disaster” raised hypothesis the nation was coping with an outbreak of the virus.
Turkmenistan has traditionally hid outbreaks of different illnesses like HIV/AIDS and plague, consultants famous to BBC News in March 2020, and human rights activists have decried the federal government’s alleged efforts to hide its Covid-19 outbreaks, with the BBC reporting the nation could presently be present process a 3rd Covid-19 surge.
Large Quantity
228.66 million. That’s the overall variety of Covid-19 circumstances which were recorded worldwide for the reason that pandemic started as of Monday morning, according to Johns Hopkins College.
What We Don’t Know
Nations and territories’ lack of reported Covid-19 circumstances could not essentially imply there haven’t been any Covid-19 infections in any respect. Whereas it’s attainable nations haven’t detected any circumstances as a result of there haven’t been any Covid-19 infections, it’s additionally attainable some circumstances may have gone unreported on account of insufficient testing or Covid-19 unfold that went undetected, along with any potential efforts by governments to hide circumstances, as would be the case in North Korea and Turkmenistan.
Contra
Whereas a minimum of most of those locations seem to have efficiently evaded the virus, different nations which have adopted so-called “Covid zero” methods meant to maintain the coronavirus out have suffered outbreaks. Fiji experienced a large Covid-19 outbreak that started over the summer season after going a year with out recording notable neighborhood transmission of the virus, and far of Australia was compelled into lockdown because the delta variant took maintain, prompting the continent to abandon its zero-Covid technique.
Tangent
Along with the nations which have gone with none circumstances of Covid-19, the WHO reports that Samoa, Vanuatu, the Marshall Islands and Palau have additionally all recorded 5 or fewer confirmed Covid-19 circumstances.
Key Background
American Samoa’s case was a totally vaccinated traveler who examined constructive whereas quarantining after arriving on the island, the territory’s Division of Homeland Safety reported, after beforehand testing unfavourable earlier than the journey. Officers report the traveler was asymptomatic. American Samoa Gov. Lemanu Mauga, who the Related Press reports was on the identical flight because the Covid-infected traveler and is now in quarantine, stated in an announcement the constructive case proved why the nation’s Covid mitigation protocols have been efficient, saying it “highlights the significance of why our course of is important to stop the unfold of Covid-19” and “the significance of sustaining our present quarantine protocols.”
Additional Studying
American Samoa, one of the last places without coronavirus, has first infection (Washington Publish)
How bad is the COVID-19 pandemic in North Korea? Here’s what we know (Los Angeles Instances)
Turkmenistan: Getting Covid in a land where no cases officially exist (BBC)
Can ‘zero COVID’ countries continue to keep the virus at bay once they reopen? (Science)
Full protection and dwell updates on the Coronavirus