The Palau Executive Order #442 aims to resume regular scheduled flights into Palau for "essential workers" and to allow cruise ships to dock with only minimal assurances they are COVID free. This is unnecessary and extremely risky in this worsening COVID 19 global pandemic.

Despite some medical facilities in Palau, they are minimal and unlikely to cope with the spread of the COVID 19 virus once it gets into Palau. It is wrong to assume that preparations made so far are adequate.

Essential workers can still be chartered in on specific flights and go through the tested quarantine procedure. 2 weeks outside Palau, then 2 weeks upon arrival with frequent testing.

Foreign workers stranded in Palau and wishing to leave are already being catered for with chartered flights out of Palau.

Cruise ships should not be allowed in under any circumstances as it cannot be guaranteed they are clean of the COVID 19 virus.

The global pandemic is still getting worse especially in the U.S. Scientists are still trying to understand the virus, it's transmission and it's secondary health impacts. 

The benefits of restarting flights and opening borders as proposed by this executive order are negligible compared to the risks.

Please sign this petition to ask for the retraction of this executive order and to find better alternatives that benefit Palau's economy without the risks.

People will likely die if COVID 19 gets to Palau. Is it worth the risk?