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View of the Micronesian island of Pohnpei
Photo: Jonathan Ernst/AP
The Pacific state of Micronesia is no longer part of the exclusive group of officially corona-free countries.
On Tuesday, President David Panuelo's office confirmed dozens of Covid-19 cases on the Micronesian islands of Kosrae and Pohnpei.
The situation is "very dynamic".
Earlier this week, two students on Kosrae tested positive after traveling from the main island of Pohnpei.
According to official information, Micronesia, 1600 kilometers north of Papua New Guinea in the Pacific, had remained virtually free of corona cases since the outbreak of the pandemic - with the exception of a few people who tested positive upon entry, who were immediately sent to quarantine.
After the new corona cases became known, the health authorities advised against public gatherings and recommended the use of mouth and nose covers.
But no “public services” would be discontinued.
After the outbreak in Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu are considered the only remaining corona-free Pacific countries.
Micronesia plans to lift entry restrictions in the country on August 1.
However, visitors to the island nation must show full vaccination against Covid-19 and a negative corona test upon entry.
When the opening plans were announced in May, President Panuelo said that he hoped that they would encourage as many of the approximately 100,000 residents of the more than 600 islands as possible to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
wit/AFP