Israel is one of the few countries whose community spread of COVID-19 is truly worrying, as is the steady increase in the number of fatalities. So far more than 1,000 have died, with July and August being the deadliest.
The number of patients on ventilators is also seeing a slow but steady increase. The rise in morbidity is particularly noticeable in Arab and Haredi towns, but new coronavirus carriers are diagnosed daily in different cities all across Israel, even if they are not considered "red zones."
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Israel is now facing a healthcare emergency, and despite the very good intentions of coronavirus czar, Professor Ronni Gamzu, his efforts have been in vain.
Gamzu's unforced errors, and the fact that the prime minister and the cabinet ministers don't have his back and prefer to shirk their responsibilities by attacking him personally, have led Israel to where it is today. It is a country that is burying its head in the sand because it wants to avoid the immediate lockdown that is so desperately needed on at least 30 cities and communities. If Israel avoids a lockdown, it may well become another New York, Spain, Belgium or Brazil.
In the wake of the clashes between the Haredim and Gamzu, there have been allegations that politicians have once again managed to sabotage the battle against coronavirus. But it's important to keep in mind that we are dealing with a new virus that does not have a vaccine and that all throughout history, dealing with pandemics has been a battle won not just through the field of medicine but also through social and political action.
In order to successfully deal with a contagion, the decision-makers must enjoy the full confidence of the people and show complete transparency that takes into account public health as well as its livelihood of people and democracy's health.
On those metrics, the Health Ministry, Gamzu and the entire cabinet have not delivered, and public trust has been eroding.
The former Health Ministry Director General Moshe Bar Siman-Tov told Channel 13 News on Sunday, "I feel that too many people think there is no real danger, but unfortunately, our hopes that the virus will disappear on its own have failed to materialize and that is why it is important to continue with this nationwide, and personal, effort."
According to Bar Siman-Tov, things will get much worse in the winter if Israel fails to tackle the virus now, and that's why it is so crucial to reach a coronavirus "normalcy" that would ensure low morbidity. We would all be well-advised to listen to Bar Siman-Tov, whose actions during the first wave resulted in a resounding success on a global scale.
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