The MV Chief Mailo, homeported out of Chuuk, remains in Pohnpei's lagoon as of February 2, 2021. The results of COVID-19 testing on the crew and passengers remain the same. Out of the 12 crew and passengers, one POSITIVE case remains. A joint medical report, signed by State and National medical authorities declare the POSITIVE case "historical" and "non-infectious". So why does she remain at sea and not moored at Pohnpei's dock? Even with WHO reporting that the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is once again COVID-19 free?
There still remains a POSITIVE case onboard. Isn't that enough? Please point me to the expert with at least five years of experience dealing with COVID-19. Wait, no experts with at least five years or even three years of dealing with COVID-19? How about changing a word, like POSITIVE to mean the exact opposite? Is that possible?
The three to five years of experience question puts everything in perspective. Why? because three to five years ago, we knew zero about this virus. We really have about over a year of experience - globally - dealing with COVID-19. It seems like a long time. Why? Maybe because what we have learned about COVID-19 continues to change. We read, listen and watch COVID-19 updates online almost daily. In fact, we have been so used to the numbers and warnings, that it is quite possible we have become desensitized to COVID-19 news. What else can shock us?
So what does one do in the face of changing data and increasing numbers? How can we prevent ourselves from being too complacent to this still mostly unknown virus? How about paying attention to the facts, especially in the case of MV Chief Mailo.
Fact 1: The ship came from a COVID-19 infected country, the Republic of the Philippines
Fact 2: Three crewmembers tested POSITIVE in the Philippines in July 2020, they were placed in isolation and the rest of the crew in quarantine.
Fact 3: After quarantine, all crew members were NEGATIVE in August 2020.
Fact 4: In October 2020, all crewmembers were tested negative for antibodies to the COVID-19, except for one crew member who had a POSITIVE antibody test (IgG positive and IgM negative).
Fact 5: In December 2020, all crewmembers were tested NEGATIVE, prior to departing the Philippines.
Fact 6: January 7, 2021, at anchorage in Pohnpei, ONE POSITIVE was found.
Fact 7: January 18, 2021, at anchorage in Pohnpei, ONE POSITIVE - same case
Fact 8: January 22, 2021: at anchorage in Pohnpei, the POSITIVE is now NEGATIVE after using a less sensitive BINAX test. All previous tests were conducted using GenXpert PCR tests. Another test the following day using the GenXpert PCR test shows the previously tested negative test is still POSITIVE!!
Fact 9: January 27, 2021, joint medical report reports on the POSITIVE case: "He was most likely infected before October 2020 while in the Philippines when his antibody test was positive for IgG and may have recovered before he joined the CM (chief mailo) crew on September 1, 2020.
So, what do the facts tell us? You be the judge. Try to make sense out of this quagmire of positives, negatives, and testing. If one goes to the conclusion for their decision, then one POSITIVE case remains on board the vessel that "may have recovered". That's the confusing conclusion.
Let us learn from our first lessons with COVID-19, waaaaay back in 2020. When there was quick and decisive action. Close borders, halt disembarkation, and err on the side of caution. Has it worked? As of today, there is not one positive case of COVID-19 on land in any FSM state, no community transmission, no deaths from COVID-19 anywhere in the FSM. How about that for facts?
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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
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