The tiny Pacific state of Micronesia has confirmed dozens of COVID-19 cases, leaving Tuvalu and Marshall Islands as the last two Pacific nations believed to be free of the illness.
The tiny Pacific state of Micronesia has lost its status as one of the few COVID-free countries, after confirming community cases on two islands.Local health officials then confirmed 10 more positive results among 11 family membersApart from a few isolated border cases in managed quarantine, the Federated States of Micronesia had remained free of coronavirus due to its location about 1,600 kilometres north of Papua New Guinea.
That was until two students tested positive after arriving on the island of Kosrae from Pohnpei, the Micronesian capital island, earlier this week. Local health officials then confirmed 10 more positive results among 11 family members of the two initial cases.A statement from the office of President David Panuelo on Tuesday said Micronesia faced "a rapidly evolving situation" and confirmed dozens of extra cases on both Kosrae and Pohnpei.
The local health authority has discouraged public gatherings and advised people to use face masks at all times, but has said "all public services will remain open". Subsequent testing has also shown that 25 of 28 patients with flu-like symptoms at a hospital on Kosrae tested positive for COVID-19.