Coronavirus has affected every part of the world with more than 300m cases recorded since the start of the pandemic.
From the original epicentre of the virus in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 to its arrival in Europe a few months later Covid-19 has devastated communities with 5,564,959 recorded deaths as of Tuesday, January 18, according to Worldometer.
Read more: Wales top medic 'cautiously optimistic' the end of the pandemic is in sight
But incredibly, two years on, there are still some countries that have had either a handful of coronavirus cases or none at all.
Here are the countries with between zero and five coronavirus cases in total. Case figures are taken from Worldometer and vaccination figures are taken from the World Health Association (WHO). Data is correct as of Tuesday, January 18.
Tuvalu
Often known as one of, if not the, least visited countries in the world, Tuvalu sees fewer than 200 tourists per year.
Located in the Pacific Ocean about midway between Hawaii and Australia the island country of 11,646 people has reported no reported cases of Covid-19 since the pandemic began. There is currently no commercial travel to Tuvalu and the borders are closed to all non-nationals.
The country has administered 12,114 vaccine doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine so far.
Total number of Covid-19 cases: Zero
Nauru
An island country and microstate in the central Pacific in Oceania, Nauru is the third-smallest country in the world by size and has a population of about 10,670 people.
With no cases since the pandemic began Nauru restricted inbound travel up until quite recently, loosening its borders in December to allow travellers with evidence of a negative PCR test undertaken not more than three days before travel. The only scheduled flight to Nauru is a fortnightly service on alternate Fridays from Brisbane.
A total of 15,128 vaccine doses have been administered in Nauru.
Total number of Covid-19 cases: Zero
Kiribati
Kiribati, an independent island nation of more than 119,000 people in the Pacific Ocean, has also had no Covid cases. International travel to Kiribati is currently suspended but the country has already said it will deny entry to any travellers who have been in or transited countries with confirmed local transmission within 14 days immediately prior to entering once borders re-open.
As of January 4 2022, a total of 111,686 vaccine doses had been administered.
Total number of Covid-19 cases: Zero
Cook Islands
Made up of 15 islands in the South Pacific Ocean, the Cook Islands is a self-governing island country in free association with New Zealand. The borders of the Cook Islands are closed to all travellers unless an exemption is provided in writing by the Cook Islands ministry of foreign affairs and immigration.
A total of 25,601 vaccine doses had been administered to its 16,459 people as of January 10.
Total number of Covid-19 cases: Zero
Pitcairn Islands
The Pitcairn Islands is a group of four volcanic islands forming the only British Overseas Territory in the Pacific Ocean. With a population of just 47 people it is the least populous national jurisdiction in the world.
Pitcairn has kept its borders shut since the start of the pandemic but is due to re-open them at the end of March having recorded no coronavirus cases. It has achieved 100% vaccination with all 47 people having had their jabs.
Total number of Covid-19 cases: Zero
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan in central Asia has kept its borders closed except for repatriation flights coming in. Citizens of the country returning home are expected to be fully vaccinated against and have tested negative for coronavirus.
Officially the country maintains it has recorded zero Covid-19 cases so far but medical experts have cast doubts on these claims. The Turkmenistani government last week imposed a new lockdown with no official announcement, with most public places excluding food shops being closed. The country only emerged from a four-month lockdown in December.
Total number of Covid-19 cases: Zero
North Korea
Arguably the most secretive country in the world, North Korea has officially reported no cases of Covid-19 since the pandemic started and has continued to keep its borders rigidly shut.
It is also one of the few countries in the world which hasn't rolled out a vaccine programme having rejected multiple offers to have vaccines imported in from neighbouring countries.
Total number of Covid-19 cases: Zero
Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia – a country consisting of around 600 islands in the western Pacific – has had just one coronavirus case among its 104,468 people.
On January 8, 2021, Micronesia reported its first case, that of a crew member on board a cargo ship who was in managed isolation. The case was later deemed a non-infectious 'historical case' meaning the individual concerned likely had Covid-19 in the past possibly and was asymptomatic at the time of testing. It remains the country's only case of the virus.
As of December 15, 2021, a total of 82,358 vaccine doses had been administered.
Total number of Covid-19 cases: One
Tonga
The Polynesian islands of Tonga recorded their first case of coronavirus on October 29, 2021, but the person has since recovered.
Tongan borders are closed to entry to all foreign nationals except if authorisation is granted by the relevant Tongan government authorities. This includes international cruises and yachts.
On August 5, 2021, the Tongan government introduced legislation amending the Public Health Act to allow compulsory Covid-19 vaccination. As of January 4, 2022, a total of 137,609 vaccine doses had been administered.
Total number of Covid-19 cases: One
Saint Helena
Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory and remote volcanic tropical island in the south Atlantic Ocean, has recorded just two cases of the virus.
All air arrivals (except from neighbouring island Ascension) to Saint Helena are required to have had a negative Covid test within 72 hours before travelling to the island. They are also subject to compulsory quarantine for 10 days and will be tested on arrival and at the end of quarantine. The only exception are individuals travelling from Ascension who have been resident for 10 days or more prior to travel.
On May 5, 2021, the government of Saint Helena announced that 3,528 residents had received both doses of the vaccine. This represents 95.1% of Saint Helena's adult population and 77.8% of its total population.
Total number of Covid-19 cases: Two
Samoa
With 202,506 people, the Polynesian independent island country of Samoa has recorded just three Covid cases since the pandemic began.
Samoa’s international borders are currently closed under an ongoing state of emergency unless travel is approved by the Samoan government due to exceptional circumstances such as repatriation of residents.
Some 264,438 vaccine doses had been administered there as of December 20, 2021.
Total number of Covid-19 cases: Three
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