The Marshall Islands, which was one of the last coronavirus-free nations in the world, has finally reported two coronavirus cases. The cases were discovered on Wednesday at a border check of incoming US military base workers on Kwajalein Atoll. So far, both cases are asymptomatic. Because the cases were discovered right away and have been quarantining on the military base, the country will not take further measures such as closing schools and businesses.

The area of the Pacific where the Marshall Islands lie has been the least infected region of the world. The World Health Organisation reports that the countries Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga, Samoa, Palau, Micronesia, Kiribati and Nauru have not had a single case yet. Their remote location and quick border closures helped keep the virus out. The virus still affected these Pacific nations, however, as their economies suffer from months of isolation.

Text: Lisa Poppe, photo: by Peter Mellow via Pixabay