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The world is battling the deadly coronavirus pandemic for over two years now. However, there are a few countries that remain completely untouched by the pandemic.

The WHO has released a list that shows a couple of countries that have zero cases of the virus. Most of these countries and territories are islands in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Here is the list:

Micronesia: This country is spread across the western Pacific Ocean comprising more than 600 islands. However, Micronesia is made up of 4 island states: Pohnpei, Kosrae, Chuuk and Yap.

Nauru: Located in Oceania, the country features a coral reef and white-sand beaches. As per the WHO list, nearly 68 people per 100 are fully vaccinated here.

Niue: It is a small island nation in the South Pacific ocean. Over 79 people per 100 are fully vaccinated against Covid here.

Pitcairn Islands: This comprises the islands of Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno. It is a small volcanic region situated in the South Pacific at latitude 25.04 south and longitude 130.06 west. 74 people per 100 are fully vaccinated here.

Saint Helena: Known as the place of Napoleon Bonaparte’s exile and death, this is a remote volcanic outpost in the South Atlantic Ocean. WHO claims that 58.16 persons per 100 are fully vaccinated here.

Tokelau: Located near New Zealand, this place has a single airport. It only has a population of about 1,500 people.

Tuvalu: This is a group of three reef islands and six atolls. Tuvalu closed its borders and mandated quarantine. As per WHO, nearly 50 people are fully vaccinated per 100 population.

Turkmenistan and North Korea have also been listed as being free of the deadly coronavirus. These countries have not yet acknowledged any case officially.

The WHO list also mentions countries that have been the worst hit by the deadly virus. The United States tops the list with 77,521,589 cases, followed by India with 42,780,235 cases.

The World Health Organisation, on Tuesday, urged governments to regulate the use of electronic cigarettes as they pose great dangers to human health.

The WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said nicotine was highly addictive and must be regulated to curb the tobacco industry’s “criminal” tactics to get young people hooked on the substance.

Ghebreyesus made the appeal in a WHO report titled ‘Global Tobacco Epidemic 2021”.

He warned that electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are harmful and should be regulated for maximum public health protection.

The report also showed that tobacco leads to eight million deaths annually, adding that over one million die from second-hand smoking.

“Where they are not banned, governments should adopt appropriate policies to protect their populations from the harms of ENDS, and to prevent their uptake by children, adolescents and other vulnerable groups,” it said.

According to the report, the manufacturers of these products often target youths with thousands of tantalising flavours and reassuring statements.

‘It’s The Most Criminal Act…We Can’t Let That Happen’

Leader of WHO Tobacco Free Initiative, Vinayak Prasad, also noted that targeting children with toxic and poisonous products is a criminal action.

“It’s the most criminal act. And it’s a human rights violation. They run the risk of being addicted for the rest of their lives,” he said.

He further noted that following the huge drop in the sales of cigarette, tobacco companies have developed new products like e-cigarettes and heated-tobacco products while lobbying governments to limit their regulation.

“Their goal is simple: to hook another generation on nicotine. We can’t let that happen.

“Distinguishing the nicotine-containing products from the non-nicotine, or even from some tobacco-containing products, can be almost impossible. This is just one way the industry subverts and undermines tobacco control measures,” he said.

According to the report, the sales of ENDS have been banned in 32 countries including Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Iraq, Mexico, North Korea and Singapore.

It also stated that 79 countries have adopted measures to either prohibit the use of such products in public places, prohibit their advertising, promotion and sponsorship or require the display of health warnings on packaging.

“This still leaves 84 countries where they are not regulated or restricted in any way,” the WHO said.

The report noted that there were still over billion active smokers around the world.

North Korea

Here is a list of countries that remain untouched by Covid with zero cases so far

WHO Move Against E-Cigarettes, Vows to take action