Countries and territories that are COVID-19 free

This early Friday, Aug. 16, 2019 file photo shows an aerial view of large icebergs floating as the sun rises near Kulusuk, Greenland. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

TORONTO — For the past 12 months, COVID-19 has held a firm grip on almost every country around the world, with some well into their second and third waves. According to the World Health Organization, as of March 2021, 223 countries, areas and territories have confirmed cases of COVID-19, but there are a few that have managed to keep the virus out.

Greenland

Greenland A boat navigates at night next to a large iceberg in eastern Greenland, Aug. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the territory in March 2020. Greenland has had a total of 31 infections and zero deaths, and currently has no cases. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Tuvalu

Tuvalu Funafuti, the main island of the nation state of Tuvalu, is seen from a Royal New Zealand airforce C130 aircraft, this Oct. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Located between Hawaii and Australia, this independent nation has yet to report a single case of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Tonga

Tonga Locals prepare to leave their house in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, April 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

This island has kept COVID-19 out by closing its airports, preventing cruise ships from docking and imposing a national lockdown. The small island nation has not reported a single case since the beginning of the outbreak. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Palau

Palau Children play at a resort beach in Ngerkebesang, Palau, June 13, 2009. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

The island nation has no recorded cases of COVID-19 and has managed to keep the virus off its shores by suspending air travel and imposing a mandatory 14-day quarantine model. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

Cook Islands

This island nation located in the South Pacific has not had any reported cases of COVID-19. The country imposed mandatory quarantine periods for travellers and banned cruise ships from its ports as part of its efforts to keep the virus out.

Kiribati

Kiribati Clouds float over the Millennium Island, Kiribati, in the South Pacific, Dec. 30, 1999. (AP / Katsumi Kasahara, File)

Located near Hawaii, this small island nation introduced travel restrictions early on in the pandemic and has yet to report a single case of COVID-19. (AP/Katsumi Kasahara, File)

Micronesia

Micronesia This Oct. 29, 2017, photo shows the Chuuk Lagoon in the Federated States of Micronesia. (AP Photo/Nicole Evatt)

Micronesia reported its one and only case of COVID-19 in Jan. 2021. The patient was put in managed isolation and the case has since been resolved. (AP Photo/Nicole Evatt)

Pitcairn Islands

Adamstown on Pitcairn Island Adamstown on Pitcairn Island, seen on June 7, 2003. (AP)

Since the beginning of the outbreak, this group of islands that form the only British Overseas Territory in the Pacific Ocean has not reported any cases of COVID-19. Despite having fewer than 50 full-time residents and no reported cases, all passenger services to the island have been suspended as a precautionary measure. (AP)

Correction

The story has been corrected to clarify that Greenland has had zero deaths, and not "since June 2020" as previously stated.