FSM Information Services
Press Release
Travelers Encouraged to Stay Home; if Travel to the FSM is Necessary, You Will Be Subject to Quarantine/Isolation Requirements; Travel to Chuuk Banned Until March 29th, 2020
PALIKIR, Pohnpei—Per the National Declaration Placing the Entire Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) under a State of National Public Health Emergency in Connection with the COVID-19 Pandemic, now that both the U.S. State of Hawaii and the U.S. Territory of Guam have confirmed cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus, visibly healthy travelers originating from Guam and Hawaii with no symptoms may travel into the FSM. All travelers will be subject to mandatory quarantine upon their arrival into the Nation regardless of the FSM State they are arriving to, except for Chuuk State where disembarking is not allowed until March 29th, 2020. Quarantine is mandatory; there are to be no exceptions to this policy in any circumstance.
The 14-day delay in a COVID-19 free jurisdiction no longer applies on the premise that there are no COVID-19 free jurisdictions for FSM citizens to delay in. FSM citizens are discouraged from traveling back home unless absolutely necessary; non-FSM citizens are strongly encouraged to remain abroad until after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided.
In the event a conflict emerges between the FSM National and FSM State Declarations and Emergency Orders, the Declaration by His Excellency David W. Panuelo takes precedence. All components of FSM State Declarations and Emergency Orders that do not conflict with the President’s Declaration are to be respected and adhered to in full, such as the FSM State of Pohnpei requiring a medical certificate from a licensed medical professional stating that the traveler is symptom-free.
On his way back to Pohnpei, His Excellency David W. Panuelo, President of the FSM, called the Honorable Johnson S. Elimo, Governor of the FSM State of Chuuk, regarding Chuuk State’s declaration banning all arrivals until March 29th, 2020. Although the President’s declaration legally supersedes the Governor’s, President Panuelo and Governor Elimo—agreeing that the safety and security of the people of Chuuk is paramount, and that the finalization on the establishment of quarantine facilities is necessary—agreed that no passengers will be allowed to deplane in Chuuk given the lack of sufficient quarantine facilities. After March 29th, 2020, any traveler to Chuuk will require a 14-day stay in a designated quarantine facility.
Travel to the FSM State of Pohnpei, per a March 19th amendment to Pohnpei’s Constitutional Emergency Order 20-01, is only allowed for “Pohnpei residents”, which “include noncitizens who are employed by the Pohnpei State Government, the FSM National Government, diplomatic corps, businesses, international agencies and nonprofit organizations” as well as “medical and technical personnel to assist with COVID-19, at the request of Pohnpei State.” This also includes any medical or technical personnel requests by the FSM National Government.
President Panuelo, in a phone call with the Honorable Reed B. Oliver, Governor of Pohnpei State, advised that the FSM National Government is willing to look past jurisdictional issues and adapt to a rapidly evolving scenario to work with the Nation’s States as the FSM endeavors to protect its citizens and residents.
Non-FSM citizens remain discouraged from traveling to the FSM at this time. Travel to the FSM State of Chuuk is banned. Travel to the FSM State of Pohnpei, per a March 19th amendment to Pohnpei’s Constitutional Emergency Order 20-01, is only allowed for Pohnpei State residents, with exceptions for medical capacity-building and technical personnel the state requests. Every traveler to the FSM at this time is subject to mandatory quarantine.