KOROR (Island Times/Pacnews) — The travel corridor between Palau and Taiwan re-opened with 148 visitors arriving Saturday from Taiwan.
The travel bubble resumed despite a joint resolution introduced in the upper house of the Palau National Congress, calling for the imposition of stringent protocols on unvaccinated travelers from Taiwan.
Senate Joint Resolution 11-14 urges President Surangel Whipps Jr. to immediately discontinue the sterile corridor travel bubble between Palau and Taiwan, and ensure that all who enter Palau from Taiwan comply with guidelines on quarantine, isolation and testing.
“Given that the Republic of China [Taiwan] cannot currently be considered Covid-safe country, it is imperative that any travelers arriving in Palau from Taiwan adhere to the most stringent quarantine, isolation and testing protocols established by the Ministry of Health and Human Services,” the resolution stated.
In response, Health and Human Services Minister Ngirai Tmetuchel said the lawmakers’ concerns were valid, but the primary reason for re-opening the flights is to help Palauans in need of urgent medical service to be flown to Taiwan.
He said the Palau national government is working very closely with Taiwan and taking all measures to ensure that everyone is safe and protected against Covid-19.
President Whipps, for his part, noted that the number of daily cases in Taiwan has dropped; most Palauans are already vaccinated; travelers are tested at the airport three hours before boarding and are vaccinated when they arrive which is an added layer of protection for Palau, he added.
According to other sources, there were 149 arrivals on Saturday, of whom 136 were Taiwan visitors who applied for vaccination. They were taken directly to Palau National Gym to get their J&J Covid-19 vaccine jabs.
Last week, Minister Tmetuchl reported that with the approval of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vaccines that are about expire this August and September can be provided to Taiwan. Sources said there are about 1,000 J&J and 2,000 Pfizer vaccine shot that will expire in the next two months.
So far this month, there are nine China Airlines flights to Palau scheduled and one in the first week of September.
