You would be forgiven for thinking the tiny island nation of Iceland is being ravaged by coronavirus.

Raw data shows the highest proportion of confirmed cases anywhere in the world - 1,300 among a population of 365,000.

But step outside into the bright spring sunshine and you won't see ghostly quiet streets and shuttered businesses like in Italy and Spain.

Instead the cafes, pubs and shops are doing a gentle trade, while schools remain open and travel is unhindered - even tourists are welcomed, the ones that manage to book a flight.

The reason behind the high numbers is the most aggressive Covid-19 testing regime anywhere in the world.

In proportion to population, Iceland has now screened five times as many as in South Korea - the poster country for a national Covid response - and 30 times as many as the UK has managed.

At the latest count 22,195 people had been tested - amounting to six per cent of the population. 1,364 have tested positive and four people have died.

With the results authorities are able to pursue aggressive quarantines for those with a higher statistical chance of infection, to slow the spread without a draconian nationwide shutdown.