Amazing... that you don't provide proper context. Palau had strict travel restrictions, social distancing, masks and many other requirements to address Covid. As soon as they allowed all incoming travel in late 2021 and loosened some restrictions they experienced a surge in Covid Omicron cases -- since Omicron is vaccine evasive in regards to infection this surge is not surprising. Of course
the majority of deaths in Palau were among the few unvaccinated. How shocking.
Please note that due to Palau's vaccination policy the level of deaths and serious illness is far below western countries in 2022.
Palau still has a strict vaccination policy for incoming travelers -- and vaccination requirements for all residents. Palau's strict isolation and imposition of Covid restrictions and then vaccination allowed them to be one of the better performing countries during the 2020/2021 time period.