Signs of anxiety and panic have been felt throughout Israel over the past few days: A significant decrease in the number of Israelis checking in to emergency rooms in hospitals in the Tel Aviv area; the cancellation of many social events, even those planned for a few dozen guests; the sweeping cancellation of travel abroad to most destinations; a decrease in the number of Israelis going to shopping malls; and even cases of taxi drivers refusing to take tourists.
These signs follow the panic-inducing reports that stocks are dropping, of the continuing spread of the virus throughout the world, the ever-worsening announcements by the Health Ministry about the growing numbers of Israelis infected with the disease, the tens of thousands of Israelis in-home quarantine, and the approximately 2,000 Israelis that have been examined, most of whom, fortunately, are not infected.
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The result of the new and severe measures announced by the Health Ministry is Israel's isolation from many major countries, as well as a lengthy self-quarantine for tens of thousands. The ministry has also notified the public that soon they may impose even more severe measures, including the shutdown of schools and public transportation.
The major problem in the preparation for the new virus in Israel and worldwide is its reliance on partial information. The virus was previously unknown to science and medicine and there is still no vaccine that can prevent it, or a scientifically proven treatment that can cure it. The Health Ministry's new restrictions are intended to reduce infection and slow the spread of the epidemic until the summer, when, according to the assessments and hopes of some health organizations, infections will decrease in number throughout the world.
However, coping with the coronavirus, as with any epidemic, is not only physiological but also social and psychological – a question of morale. In addition to the virus itself, false information, rumors, and panic may worsen the damage it causes, as well as its spread. The public's trust in the information publicized by the Health Ministry about the disease, and the public's willingness to accept and implement the Ministry's instructions, are critical in the fight against the spread of the virus and the reduction of infections and, heaven forbid, deaths.
Israel's resistance to the spread of the virus should not only rely on its medical preparedness but also on a strong and resilient social and economic foundation. The country should reduce, as much as possible, the harm caused to Israeli companies and workers, such as in the airline industry. Though the Health Ministry should prioritize public health, it should also take into account Israel's economic and social situation, which, it seems, it does not always do to a sufficient degree. The government should be prepared to assist and compensate those hit by the crisis, and to announce such measures as early as possible in order to avoid economic disaster.
Most of the steps taken by the Health Ministry to reduce the spread of the virus are based on social and civic solidarity and on the citizens' personal commitment to the entire public, as opposed to medical technology, threats, and police compliance. Thus, the Ministry's demand that tens of thousands of Israelis returning from countries where the virus has spread, or those who were near patients, to self-quarantine for two weeks, is based on self-discipline and civic solidarity. The Ministry itself knows it is unable to supervise quarantine, nor does it purport to be able to do so, and trusts the public to cooperate. However, the public's willingness to cooperate relies on its recognition that the Health Ministry and the government are doing all in their power to reduce the social and economic repercussions, and that the Health Ministry is acting fairly, justly, and reasonably. A hysterical reaction may cause more damage and even deaths that the dangerous virus itself.
