PALIKIR, Pohnpei—On July 15th, 2021, His Excellency David W. Panuelo—President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)—received a briefing from his technical health team regarding the July 15 , 2021 repatriation flight from Guam to Pohnpei State.
On July 14 , the repatriating persons were tested for COVID-19. One (1) out of fifty-six (56) persons tested positive for COVID-19. That person, including two (2) contacts, have since been removed from the repatriation flight, and are presently under the Government of Guam’s appropriate isolation procedures. Thus, a total of fifty-three (53) repatriating citizens arrived on July 15 , 2021.
Per Congressional Resolution 22-06, which extended the President’s Declaration of Public Health Emergency to September 30 , 2021, it is a requirement that repatriating citizens be tested for COVID-19 prior to return to the FSM. Further, to enter into pre-quarantine on Guam, all repatriating persons, with limited exceptions (e.g. minors, pregnant women), demonstrated possession of documentary evidence showing they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
All repatriating citizens are fully vaccinated, with limited exception i.e. children. All repatriating citizens have been tested negative for COVID-19.
All repatriating citizens will undergo an additional seven (7) days of quarantine at the Pohnpei State quarantine facility in Dekehtik; the citizens who arrive unvaccinated will stay a total of fourteen (14) days. All repatriating citizens will receive COVID-19 tests upon arrival and prior to exiting the quarantine facility.
All repatriating persons will undergo the same COVID-19 testing and security protection regimes. All preventative and protective measures necessary to effectively complete this repatriation effort successfully are being implemented and put into effect both in Guam and in the FSM. Access and visitation to designated pre-quarantine and quarantine facilities is restricted.
The Nation’s technical health team would ask the public to remain calm, and to appreciate that this is a sign of success; this is a sign that the FSM’s policies, procedures, and systems are working as intended. Pre-quarantine works; the Government is able to detect positive cases of COVID-19 prior to the cases entering the Nation’s borders. As of July 16 , 2021, the FSM remains COVID-19 free.
