| 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 | |
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]
Background
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]| State | Confirmed cases | Historical cases | Deaths | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chuuk |
11,772 | 0 | 22 | [18] |
 Kosrae |
1,113 | 1 | 3 | [19][20][21] |
 Pohnpei |
5,817 | 3 | 23 | [14][22][23][24][25] |
 Yap |
3,068 | 0 | 5 | [26] |
| 4/4 | 21,770 | 4 | 53 | [27] |
Impact
[edit]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]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 Mathieu, Edouard; Ritchie, Hannah; Rodés-Guirao, Lucas; Appel, Cameron; Giattino, Charlie; Hasell, Joe; Macdonald, Bobbie; Dattani, Saloni; Beltekian, Diana; Ortiz-Ospina, Esteban; Roser, Max (2020–2024). "Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)". Our World in Data. Retrieved 6 June 2026.
- 1 2 "MV Chief Mailo Returns to FSM After More Than One Year Abroad; One Isolated But Confirmed Case of COVID-19 on Board, Citizens Encouraged To Keep Distance From the Vessel & Quarantine Sites Until Further Notice". gov.fm. 8 January 2021. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- 1 2 "Micronesia last of bigger nations to have COVID-19 outbreak". The Associated Press. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ↑ Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ↑ Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- 1 2 "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ↑ "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ↑ "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ↑ "FSM, Marshall Islands step up coronavirus travel bans". RNZ. 1 February 2020. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ↑ Withers, Rachel (5 March 2020). "The Most Drastic Anti-Coronavirus Travel Ban in the World". Slate Magazine. Archived from the original on 9 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ↑ "Coronavirus: Two more cases confirmed in Guam". Radio New Zealand. 19 March 2020. Archived from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ↑ "Federated States of Micronesia reports imported case of COVID-19". Pacific Daily News. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ↑ "WHO: FSM is Covid-19 free again". Marianas Variety News & Views. February 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- 1 2 Staff Reports (21 January 2021). "Confirmed COVID-19 case in FSM considered 'historical case', vaccine campaign spreads". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
- ↑ "Micronesia's president says he mandated vaccines to protect". The Associated Press. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ↑ "Micronesia's First COVID-19 Outbreak Balloons, Causing Alarm". Voice of America. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ↑ "Epidemic and emerging disease alerts in the Pacific as of 20 December 2022". reliefweb. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
- ↑ "positive tests identified in Chuuk Quarantine. individuals safely contained and isolated". www.facebook.com. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
- ↑ Information, FSMPublic (24 July 2021). "COVID-19 Case in Kosrae Deemed Historical & Non-Infectious; Individual to Remain Isolated, Tested Further, for 14 Days; "Get Vaccinated Today", Says President Panuelo – FSM Embassy". Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ↑ "During Routine Quarantine Following Repatriation, Two Positive Cases of COVID-19 Identified & Isolated in Kosrae State; Kosrae's Community Remains COVID-19 Free". Facebook. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- Kosrae Risk Communication & Community Engagement (23 July 2022). . .
- ↑ "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Repatriation Update". Facebook. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
- ↑ "Announcement". www.facebook.com. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
- ↑ Pohnpei State Enginkehlap (23 July 2022). "COVID 19 update as of July 23, 2022". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ↑ "Sharing our weekly COVID-19 SitRep". www.facebook.com. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
- ↑ "FSM COVID-19 UPDATE". www.facebook.com. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ↑ "Ensuring uninterrupted HIV, TB and malaria services in the time of COVID-19 | UNDP in the Pacific". 3 October 2021. Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
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