Chief Mailo ALL tested NEGATIVE and one to disembark/quarantine

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date Released: February 19, 2021

Official Statement: COVID-19

Chief Mailo Crew and one passenger: ALL NEGATIVE

KEY POINTS:         

• This means there is currently no positive cases for COVID-19 in Pohnpei, FSM, onboard the MS Chief Mailo
• On January 7, 2021, Pohnpei identified its first positive case of COVID-19, a crew member on board the MS Chief Mailo, anchored in Pohnpei’s Lagoon
• A re-test of crew/passenger conducted on February 17, 2021, revealed all NEGATIVE test results
• The MS Chief Mailo will be provisioned and fuelled in accordance with Pohnpei State Government protocols and procedures, including Quarantine for one passenger disembarking onto Pohnpei and depart

On February 17, 2021, the Pohnpei State COVID-19 Task Force met and unanimously decided to conduct a re-test on all the MV Chief Mailo crewmembers and one passenger.  The decision to conduct these tests was in response to a letter from President Panuelo to Governor Oliver to disembark one person from the MS Chief Mailo and bring in the vessel to provision and fuel.

The Task Force’s understanding of the MS Chief Mailo COVID-19 situation was that one POSITIVE case still remained on board.  A joint medical report confirmed the POSITIVE test as a historical case, no other tests were conducted after that.  Task Force Medical Advisor, Dr. Rally Jim, confirmed that while the historical case remains POSITIVE, a risk of infection, however small, still remained.

On the morning of February 18, 2021, Dr. Rally Jim presented 11 NEGATIVE test results for COVID-19 for the crew and passenger of the MS Chief Mailo.  With this information, Governor Oliver instructed Pohnpei Port Authority (PPA) to accommodate President Panuelo’s request of provisioning and disembarkation of one person, an FSM National Government Employee, and with the advice of Dr. Jim provide for a 7-day quarantine period with two COVID-19 tests before and after the quarantine period.

In a letter to President Panuelo regarding Chief Mailo, Governor Oliver stated the following:

The medical team for Pohnpei State Task Force was consulted and its recommendation was to reconsider doing one last test for the crew to be sure because if the person to disembark remains negative, consideration can be given subject to quarantine requirements. It is always good to err on the side of caution. The request was heeded and late yesterday our health staff conducted another test onboard. This morning the results of the lab tests were reported by the medical team. I am very thankful to inform you that what was reported turned out to be much more than what was expected.

With humility, I want to thank you for your patience, Mr. President. The details on how to handle the needed services for Chief Mailo so it can be provisioned and depart will be coordinated by our medical teams, our transportation, and port authority personnel in accordance with the established procedures. 

The MS Chief Mailo is scheduled to dock and provision at Dekehtik harbor today, disembark the one individual who will be quarantined, and then depart.

For credible sources of information on COVID-19, visit:

Pohnpei State Department of Health and Social Services: https://psdhs.fm/

Pohnpei State Government, Office of the Governor website: https://pohnpeistate.gov.fm/

Pohnpei State Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/PohnpeiStateGov/

Office of the President of the Federated States of Micronesia: www.gov.fm

V6AH Radio station/Pohnpei Public Broadcasting Corporation YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC103DbQcwFPuaCF4pleV7rw

CDC Website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

WHO Website: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

We will continue to work together with the communities to address any prevailing concerns.

For general information about COVID-19, contact 320-3109, listen to daily updates on V6AH Radio or visit the official Pohnpei State Government Facebook page: Pohnpei State Enginkehlap.

Ni wahu oh Kalahngan,

Pohnpei State COVID-19 Task Force