Finally! After over 2 years since the whole world went into Pandemic mode, Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has finally confirmed the arrival of the worldwide and world-famous virus - on our mangrove-protected shores.
It came upon a boat some say, from a neighboring island. It landed in the midst of an exposure... I mean exposition, the first-ever Micronesian Exposition (Expo). It was a great event actually. With all the four states of the FSM converging on Pohnpei, that was the perfect storm... I mean cultural event! The performances were awesome! So colorful and moving! I'm sure that 9 months from now, our population in the FSM will be surely increased with a mixture of DNA from the four states of the FSM.
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| One of the many performances at the Micro Expo |
Back to the virus reaching our shores...
It descended upon us on July 19, 2022, when the first community transmission of the virus happened. The case presented at the Pohnpei State Hospital around noon time, followed by a couple more, then more, and before we know what happened... Boom! We were in the middle of this COVID storm.
The public health folks, public safety, and front liners fell back on their protocol and guidelines. Test to Treatment centers were set up, and public services continued even if only manned by a fraction of the normal complement of employees. Kolonia was a ghost town. People started reporting flu-like symptoms and visited the crowding Test to Treatment centers across the island. At the PICS gym, Kolonia Dispensary, and then Pohnlongas Gym in Madolenihmw, people were being tested and treated for COVID-19. At the height of the surge of infections, there were over 600 positive cases detected in a 24 hour period.
This was expected. The hysteria that came along with this virus was also expected, but still surprising. Conspiracy theories were everywhere. Some people who were calm pre-virus were anything but when the cases (which were mild to moderate) started mounting. It was a nice preview of what will happen when the zombie apocalypse is finally upon us. I am ready.
So here we are today, on the 22nd day of August 2022, over 4 weeks into community transmission of the virus on Pohnpei. The variant has been identified as Omicron BA.5. We have recorded 18 deaths. Most if not all of them were not vaccinated, according to anonymous health sources. The last situation report issued by public health noted zero new cases detected. ZERO. That's amazing!
It was a quick ride up the scale of the virus transmissions. The sad and unfortunate part was, of course, the deaths. May the departed souls rest in peace.
Someone said during the surge of infections that we as humans and especially islanders are resilient. That someone said we would overcome this, we would adapt and overcome. Just like everything else that has come our way. I am sure we have adapted and we are overcoming as I write. We are learning how to live with the virus, like all other foreign invaders. This is just another one, a foreign microscopic invader. Soon, it will be a resident, then after a few generations be just one of us, assimilated to island life.
So there is no real end to this story that started over 2 years ago with a pandemic. It just becomes part of our life. Has the WHO even declared this pandemic over? In any event, I had a touch of the hysteria during the surge of infections and when that zombie apocalypse happens, I'll be ready.
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