Only four countries in the world have never recorded the slightest case of Covid-19.

The Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, which are part of it, have announced that they are considering easing their entry restrictions, saying they are ready to face the virus.

Micronesian President David Panuelo has announced that he is aiming for August 1 to reopen the country's borders, which have been completely closed since the start of the pandemic, in order to encourage the 100,000 inhabitants of the archipelago's 600 islands. to get vaccinated.

Vaccination and a negative test still required

"Choosing to reopen the nation's borders on August 1 is tantamount to knowingly choosing to introduce Covid-19 to the Federated States of Micronesia shortly thereafter," David Panuelo said in a statement.

“Therefore, it is essential to take this decision, for the nation to move from being free of Covid-19 to being protected from Covid-19,” he added.

From August 1, visitors will be able to enter Micronesia provided they are fully vaccinated and present a negative test result.

In the neighboring Marshall Islands, which has 60,000 inhabitants, the government is considering relaxing the rules for entering the territory, among the strictest in the world.

A situation that is no longer “sustainable”

Currently, any traveler wishing to enter the country must begin by spending a week of quarantine in Honolulu, in the American archipelago of Hawaii, followed by another two weeks of quarantine in the Marshalls.

From June, the authorities will in principle abolish the quarantine in Honolulu and reduce to ten days that in the Marshall Islands, declared to AFP the secretary general of the government, Kino Kabua.

"I don't think it's realistic and sustainable to maintain the current status quo," said Kino Kabua.

"Now we're really going to have to talk about what the impact of introducing the virus to the community will be, and ways to deal with it and move forward," she added.

Last states spared in the world

According to the World Health Organization, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands are, along with Nauru and Tuvalu - two other Pacific island countries - the last four states in the world to have never recorded a case of coronavirus.

Three other Pacific territories, Tokelau, Niue and the Pitcairn Islands, also remain completely unaffected by the virus.

Tokelau and Niue belong to New Zealand and the Pitcairn Islands to the United Kingdom.

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