Public health and policy experts predict how society will function after we exit coronavirus emergency

The World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, and eventually the UN public health agency will announce that the illness has entered an endemic stage.

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This will happen when there is enough confidence that Covid-19 has become more predictable and manageable.

It can be hard to imagine what a post-pandemic world will look like as casualties continue to mount with 373 million cases and 5.66 million deaths over the past two years, according to the website Our World in Data.

Public health and policy experts gave i24NEWS some perspective on what the endemic phase of the coronavirus in Israel and beyond could entail while cautioning that the fight against the disease will continue long after the pandemic is officially over.

Will we still wear masks?

Once only common in certain east Asian countries, face coverings have become ubiquitous in Western societies as protection against airborne viral spread.

But will masks still be used in the months and years after the pandemic? 

"I am sure that 'normality' and closeness which are so important for us will drive us eventually to throw away the masks and to give up social distancing," said Dr. Itzchak Levy, head of Sheba Medical Center's Infectious Disease Institute and post-corona clinic.

However, Levy predicts that mask-wearing won't entirely disappear as the public has increased its level of awareness of the dangers of infectious diseases and pandemics, so during the winter months masks could still be worn in closed spaces.

Prof. Nadav Davidovitch, an epidemiologist and head of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev's School of Public Health, told i24NEWS that masks could still be used for people at elevated risk of respiratory illness when local outbreaks occur.

"When you don't have widespread community transmission it doesn't make sense to wear masks," Davidovitch said.

Will the Green Pass go away?

Amid the spread of the highly contagious omicron variant, Israel's Health Ministry is mulling reducing or removing entirely the Green Pass rules that allow entry to many public places to those who are vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19.

In a post-pandemic world, will the Green Pass and other measures such as airport PCR testing still be necessary?

"I don't think that in the future [the Green Pass] is something that is going to be used," Davidovitch said.

However, Davidovitch emphasized that digitally storing vaccination status and other medical information on a mobile device could still be presented in certain situations, especially when traveling and in need of emergency medical care.

"It will be great that people will have the vaccination status on their cellular phone. We can maybe use these applications to introduce all our vaccination history," the professor said.

What about other public health measures?

Israel recently shortened the COVID-19 quarantine period from seven to five days and ended isolation for children exposed to a coronavirus carrier despite concerns over pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS).

Experts interviewed by i24NEWS agreed that in the eventual post-pandemic world, the isolation and testing schemes will not be as prominent.

"The moment is indeed coming soon where we will no longer feel the need for special rules about isolating people who have been merely exposed to Covid, or for testing people for Covid. The need for such isolation and testing was real, but it may be getting less relevant as time goes on," said Adam Rose, associate professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Braun School of Public Health.

Will the massive temporary PCR testing complex at Ben Gurion Airport be dismantled during the endemic phase?

"Airport PCR tests will go away very soon I believe," Levy said.

So, if there is no going back to life before Covid, what can society do to better manage the disease during the endemic phase and prevent another pandemic?

"An endemic is very tricky because if we mean by it that we are going to return to be very passive like we were against influenza and other upper respiratory infections, I think this will be really frustrating," Davidovitch said.

Demand for at-home rapid antigen tests has surged during the omicron outbreak, and Davidovitch doesn't see why home testing cannot be a regular feature of post-pandemic societies to help prevent local transmission so when people are sick, they stay home.

"There might be the option for us buying home tests and when we don't feel well staying at home and maybe we can have a kit that can be used not just for Covid but also for influenza and other illnesses."

Historically societies have changed after experiencing a pandemic, according to Meir Rubin, executive director of the Jerusalem-based Kohelet Policy Forum, and he believes that we are on the cusp of a major change after we exit the Covid pandemic.

For example, the coronavirus pandemic has exposed the need for advanced indoor air filtration systems, and this presents a massive opportunity to clean the air we breathe.

"We have a chance to change for the better with clean water, food and air. Clean air is a necessity – every house should have HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters. Cleaning the air that we breathe will help against other viruses," Rubin explained.

"Also have compassion for each other," Rubin added. "And care about kids."

This article was first published by i24NEWS.

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As Israel approaches the High Holy Days – traditionally celebrated with friends and family and in large gatherings –Israel Hayom has reached out to health experts for their advice on how to celebrate the festivities in the safest way possible during pandemic times.

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Social distancing

Professor Hezi Levi, former director-general of the Health Ministry and now director of Ashkelon's Barzilai Medical Center, said: "Instead of imposing a lockdown, what we need is more caution exhibited by the public. That is, to limit indoor gatherings to 50 people as per Health Ministry guidelines, to wear masks, keep social distancing, and – for those who come into contact with a carrier or test positive for the coronavirus – to self-isolate.

"The state and the public needs to step up its vaccinations as much as possible. If the public adheres to the guidelines, then despite the opening of the school year and the holidays, we will not see a significant outbreak, although we are expecting a certain increase in morbidity."

Extra caution in synagogues

Expert epidemiologist Hagai Levine stressed that gatherings in synagogues posed the biggest threat for COVID resurgence. 

"First, I'd like to note that it is difficult to foresee what will happen in the upcoming month. However, in my opinion, we need to keep our fingers on the pulse and be alert at all times. Even if only vaccinated attendees enter, there may still be carriers, and the worshippers will be at risk of developing serious illnesses."

At-risk Israelis should pray outdoors

Professor Zvika Granot, from Hebrew University's Faculty of Medicine, said that Israelis with chronic diseases, or others more prone to serious illness, should pray outdoors.

"At the end of the day, we need to learn to live alongside the coronavirus until it disappears. But until that happens, the elderly and at-risk population must protect itself. The thing is that triple-jabbed people can still catch the coronavirus. Therefore, making sure that all worshippers are vaccinated does not guarantee safety for the congregants.

"Remember that the vaccine does not provide 100% protection, and with elderly people and those with illnesses, even less so, and therefore, being careful is crucial. That is how we will be able to live alongside COVID until it is gone."

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Iran has the Middle East's highest number of recorded COVID-19 cases and infections and deaths have risen sharply since restrictions on movement began to be eased in mid-April.

There were 226 deaths from the new coronavirus in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of deaths from the pandemic to 16,569.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged people on Saturday to observe health protocols and practice social distancing during upcoming Muslim festivities, as a health official said there had been a surge in coronavirus infections in a major holy city.

Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi, speaking on state television on Saturday, urged people not to visit the northeastern holy city of Mashhad, which he said had seen an increase of 300% in COVID-19 cases over a one-month period.

From the end of this month, Muslims around the world will mark the Eid al-Adha feast. This year, Saudi Arabia will drastically limit the number of pilgrims attending the Hajj to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

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Standing Together's logo appeared on the notices put up ahead of the protests in recent days, alongside logos of other organizations. The group is also planning to participate in the protest scheduled for this Saturday, in which medical workers will demonstrate against the harsh conditions in hospitals.

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One of the founders of the organization took part in a demonstration in support of a march led by Palestinian rioters in the Gaza Strip two years ago in which masses tried to breach the Israeli border fence. The founder even called for the "liberation of Palestine" and said that "we are all partners in the effort to eradicate the fascist regime in Israel."

LAHAV, the Israel Chamber of Independent Organizations and Businesses, told Israel Hayom that it has not taken part in the recent protests because "we feared that this very politicization would take place."

Kfir Shamly, who is part of the Union of Self-Employed, told Israel Hayom: "We only agree with Stand Together on economic issues and we will no longer collaborate with them. Our fight includes Jews, Arabs, Druze, and any Israeli. We love Israel, we are not against it."

The organization does not hide its left-wing agenda. On its Facebook page it says that it is part of "a movement that presents a cohesive alternative to the right-wing in Israel."

Standing Together National Director Along Lee-Green provided Israel Hayom the following statement:

"A million and a half people, both salaried employees and self-employed, have been left out of a job. Rather than carry out an investigative report through Google, it is best if you ask those who are out of touch and are joining the government with 36 ministers what they are planning to do to give people solutions. Standing Together, with its thousands of members and activists, is proud to fight together with a long list of partners from the entire spectrum of Israelis society for real economic solutions and social justice for all. We are fighting together and we will continue fighting together and we will not be separated or fragmented. "

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Representatives from several international Jewish communities gathered online on Wednesday to discuss how the Jews in their respective countries are faring with the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as what challenges and concerns they face going forward.

Participants on the call, which was sponsored by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, represented the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Argentina and South Africa. Topics focused not only on health care, but on economic concerns, accessibility to kosher-for-Passover food, growing anti-Semitism and more.

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"The COVID-19 crisis is clearly having great impact on our Jewish communities here in America, and across the world," William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents, told JNS.

"The unique nature of our community creates unique issues that we are all encountering and all attempting to overcome. We gain strength as a people through unity, and we stand together – across borders, politics and religious affiliations – in the face of this plague, as Jews have done for millennia."

One of the community's key concerns, he said, is the sustainability of communal organizations as donations have "fallen of the cliff," with major fundraising events canceled. Many have put contingency plans into place and are examining their funding reserves while seeing what mitigation efforts they can take to stay solvent. Leaders are also talking about joint fundraising efforts and governmental aid for specific charities.

Also because of the lockdown, Johnson announced that "for the first time in history, we had to cancel all of our summer tours to Israel. Our teens will not be able to go to Israel, and that is very tragic for sorts of reasons."

An estimated 1,800 teens from the United Kingdom had been expected to attend an Israel program this summer.

"Even though we are in quarantine, the attacks may come from the poorer neighborhoods, where they have more problems staying confined to their areas and not a lot to do," reported Ejnes. "Because of anti-Semitism, that may make us more of a target than other people."

Also fueling anti-Semitism right now, he added, is the fact that France's former health minister, Agnès Buzyn, who resigned in February as concerns about COVID-19 were being known, is Jewish, as is her husband. One online attack even accused her of poisoning France's water wells with the coronavirus.

Ejnes belives that the timing of the outbreak – like New York, it came around the same time as Purim – resulted in significant outbreak among the Jewish community in Strasbourg, where the chief rabbi and many congregational rabbis are infected.

If there has been one hopeful note to come from the outbreak, Ejnes said, it is the "great solidarity of our institutions," noting that every morning, the leaders of religious, nonreligious, social and political organizations are meeting to discuss communal issues.

"We didn't use to speak so much, even though we are in the same field," he said. "Now we are spending one or two hours every day discussing a variety of issues."

One of them will be what to do about kosher meats and chicken, according to Ejnes. "For supplies, we are reassured for Pesach, but will see what comes next because we will have a shortage of shochets [kosher ritual slaughterers] and meat in the coming weeks, and we will have to import."

'The challenge to reach people'

In Italy, where the death toll has been staggering overall, the Jewish community is coming together to support each other, said Noemi Di Segni, the president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities.

"The challenges we are facing … is that we cannot be on the front lines in the hospital with people who are sick. We need to support the community from emotional, social and financial support. … People need their community, but they also need a broader framework beyond family and friends."

To that end, the organized Italian Jewish community, which includes 21 distinct communities, has created a social media channel with 12 hours of programming daily encompassing cultural, religious and holiday programming.

"We have an editorial staff working day and night," said Di Segni. "Everyone has been called to be a part of this program. This is very nice because every community would seal with their own program at a local level, but now the feeling is you are participating on a national level. It gives the sense of being part of a bigger family, and this psychologically is very important."

With everyone remaining at home, getting people Passover food has proven problematic, especially for Jews who do not live in the main centers of organized Jewish life: Milan and Rome. Di Segni explained that people are only allowed to go to the market closest to them.

"But sometimes, kosher food is father away, and sometimes, in other towns," she explained. "We speak to the police to allow people to go to other [areas] or to manage the distribution system through DHL, but it's more expensive and harder, and takes more days. So that's the challenge to reach people."

Argentina's 200,000 Jews are in similar situations as other countries as they try to deal with the coronavirus, according to Victor Garelik, executive director of the Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas. He added that there has been a reticence by some to close the mikvahs and yeshivahs.

"Some 20 percent of our society is HIV positive or have TB [tuberculous]," she said. "The death rate will be very high, and we are moving into winter, and experts say winter is far more problematic."

Plus, because there are many families living in shacks, who cannot self-isolate, should the coronavirus hit there, "it will spread like wildfire."

To prevent an outbreak, the country is in extreme lockdown to prevent the virus's spread – people can't go out for walks, the army is patrolling the cities – and it's already taking an economic toll.

"We are already seeing people whose businesses have gone under," said Kahn, "and we are only on day six" of the quarantine. Those people won't be able to pay school tuition or synagogue dues, and "suddenly, our schools will be under stress, our shuls will be under stress. South Africa doesn't have the same [economic] foundations as other countries. … We are an economy that was put on 'Junk' status last week by Moody's [Rating Scale], and we were already in a dangerous situation."

As for anti-Zionism, Kahn said that universities closed the same week that Israel Apartheid Week was scheduled, so that didn't happen this year. While some of the rhetoric has moved online, youth in the Jewish community "have time on their hands and are doing a counter campaign."

Passover is difficult, even a painful time for families who have, for their whole lives, been together, but Mah nishtanah halilah hazeh, Kahn continued, quoting the famous passage from the Passover Haggadah that asks, "Why is this night different?"

"It's not business as usual," stressed Kahn, "and we are just trying to support everybody, every way we can."

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

The post This is how Jewish leaders are coping with COVID-19 around the world appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.