COVID-19 pandemic in the Federated States of Micronesia
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The COVID-19 pandemic in the Federated States of Micronesia was part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have reached the Federated States of Micronesia on 8 January 2021,[2] but an outbreak didn't begin until mid July 2022.[3]
| COVID-19 pandemic in the Federated States of Micronesia | |
|---|---|
| Disease | COVID-19 |
| Pathogen | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Federated States of Micronesia |
| First outbreak | Wuhan, China |
| Index case | Pohnpei |
| Arrival date | 8 January 2021 |
| Confirmed cases | 31,765[1] |
Deaths | 65[1] |
| Fatality rate | 0.2% |
| Government website | |
| FSM Department of Health & Social Affairs | |
Background
On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[4][5]
The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[6][7] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[8][6]
Timeline
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2020
By 3 February 2020, President David W. Panuelo, had signed a declaration banning Micronesian citizens from travelling to China and other affected countries.[9]
By 5 March, Micronesia had introduced a strict travel ban, banning anyone who had been in China anytime since January 2020 – or had been in any other affected country in the last 14 days – from entering Micronesia.[10] By 18 March, all schools in the country were closed.[11]
2021
On 8 January 2021, Micronesia reported its first case, that of a crew member on board the MV Chief Mailo near Pohnpei, in managed isolation.[2][12]
By the end of the month, the case was deemed to be negative and historical after subsequent antibody and antigen tests.[13] The case was deemed a non-infectious "historical case", meaning the individual concerned likely had COVID-19 in the past possibly prior to October 2020 and was asymptomatic at the time of testing.[14]
In August 2021, the government imposed a strict vaccination mandate for all its citizens; which meant federal aid could be with held from anyone not vaccinated. This ensured high vaccination rates, where nearly 60% of the population was fully vaccinated and about 70% was partially vaccinated by September 2021.[15]
2022
The government had planned to end all of its quarantine restrictions and also open its borders on 1 August 2022, but a COVID-19 outbreak began in the country in mid July 2022. On 19 July, the government announced that multiple positive cases were recorded in the states of Kosrae and Pohnpei.[3] The number of cases skyrocketed by a 1,000 by the end of the week and there were a total of 1,261 cases and one death by 26 July. The Vice President Yosiwo George also tested positive and had to be hospitalized. The government issued a mask mandate, noncompliance of which meant a $1,000 fine.[16]
Cases and deaths continued to rise throughout the remainder of the year, and by 15 December, a total of 22,048 cases and 58 deaths had been reported.[17]
Statistics
Impact
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Chuuk Women's Council switched from group-based services to one-to-one outreach. A particular concern was access to sexual health resources, including information, as well as HIV prevention packages.[28]
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