The COVID-19 pandemic in Palau is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have reached Palau on 31 May 2021.^[1] As of August 2021, Palau has one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the world with approximately 84% of its population fully vaccinated.

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.^[3][4]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,^[5][6] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.^[7][5]

Palauans began receiving COVID-19 vaccines in 2021.^[8] As a member of the Compact of Free Association with the United States, Palau has received vaccines from Operation Warp Speed.^[8][18] According to the Ministry of Health, vaccination started on 3 January and as of 12 April 40% of the population was fully vaccinated.^[19] By 26 May, an estimated 96% of adults (18 and over) in the country had been fully vaccinated.^[15] By the time the first case was detected, 97% of the adult population was vaccinated, about 70% of all Palauans. Plans were also announced to start vaccinating adolescents from 12 to 17.^[1]

By early August 2021, 65% of 12 to 17 year olds had at least one dose of the vaccine, resulting in 80% of the eligible population being fully vaccinated.^[20] As of 24 August 2021, 14,938 adults have received at least 1-dose with 14,447 of those being fully vaccinated. A further 1,146 adolescents (aged 12 to 17 years old) have received at least 1-dose with 835 of those being fully vaccinated.^[16] Palau's population is approximately 18,092, meaning approximately 84.5% of the total population is fully vaccinated.^[21]

• COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania