Read in Chuukese: https://aejemjem.com/fetanin-ewe-semwen-covid-19
On July 19th, FSM Government became aware of multiple cases of COVID-19 in the communities of the State of Kosrae and the State of Pohnpei. On a repatriation flight to Kosrae on July 18th, two individuals from Pohnpei tested positive for COVID-19. When the KSA health team tested the family members of the students, 10 of 11 people in the family tested positive. Another 28 people arrived at the Kosrae Hospital’s out-patient area with influenza-like-illness, and 25 tested positive for COVID-19. The community spread has since continued.
In the past week, there have been over 1000 identified cases. Two-thirds of those cases are in Pohnpei and one-third in Kosrae. There were a few border cases identified in the past year and a half, such as the 7 cases in Chuuk and 3 cases in Yap which were all caught at the border. The Pohnpei State Government has asked all residents to avoid public gatherings as much as possible, wear a facemask at all times, get vaccinated if not already, and visit the hospital with any flu-like symptoms.
On July 24th 2022, the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) confirmed that Vice President T.H. Yosiwo P. George has been hospitalized in the State of Pohnpei for COVID-19. There are two other individuals who are also presently under medical care at a state or private hospital for this virus. The FSM Government confirmed the first death in Pohnpei from COVID-19 on July 25th, an elderly man with co-morbidities. Vice President Yosiwo P. George, while still in the hospital, is improving. Numerous FSM Government Cabinet and senior officials are presently positive for COVID-19 at this time. Several businesses and restaurants in Pohnpei and Kosrae are closed at this time, not due to Government mandate, but due to lack of available staff.
There are more than 1200 reported cases and 8 hospitalizations in the Federated States of Micronesians. Chuuk, the state with the largest population, almost 50,000, and Yap with close to 12,000 people are still COVID-19 free. However, Yap has a delegation in Pohnpei at the Micronesian Expo 2022, the 70 members plus crew return Friday July 29. Kosrae, a single island state, has fewer cases than Pohnpei, but it might be impacted more because it has a smaller population. Based on population, the percent of cases in Kosrae might be a little higher than in Pohnpei even though there are more cases in Pohnpei. Pohnpei, the Capital, with a population of over 36,196 is now reporting 818 cases, or 2.3% of the population. Kosrae, the smallest and a single island state, with a population of 6616 is now reporting 433 cases, or 6.5% of the population.