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Israel’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been closely monitored around the world – especially for the rapid delivery of vaccines and the early decision to offer booster doses.
This country is now facing an unprecedented number of infections, caused by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
On Tuesday, authorities there reported over 37,000 new cases, breaking every previous record.
Among those infected is Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who said he is in good health and isolated at home.
Despite the increase in cases, the Israeli government is resisting restoring blockades and most other restrictions, although it says the peak of infections may still be far away.
What is the strategy?
Shortly after the appearance of the Omicron variant for the first time in South Africa in November, Israel has curbed most international travel.
Cyrille Cohen, a professor of life sciences at Bar Ilan University near Tel Aviv, describes this as a “good move” that, he says, has largely stopped the transmission of the virus and bought time to prepare for treatment.
However, he adds, Israel has not used this time to adequately increase its testing capacity.
Later, with the increase in the internal transmission of the infection, Israel has come to the conclusion that travel restrictions will do nothing but harm the economy.
He has reopened his skies and allowed bars, restaurants, gyms and other facilities to remain open.
Speaking to AFP, Cohen says Israel has effectively “transferred part of the management of this crisis from the authorities to the people”, giving citizens the primary responsibility for self-testing and quarantine.
What are the risks?
Hagai Levine, president of the Israeli Association of Public Health Physicians, told AFP that Israel’s decision to “continue to lead a normal life” would inevitably result in more infections.
Levine supports the decision to avoid a new deadlock, but says the Government will face problems if it continues to announce policy changes almost daily.
“The constant change of policy causes confusion and the feeling that the Government is not in control [situatën] “Which is true, because it is not possible to have it under control,” he said.
The head of the pandemic treatment unit in Israel, Salman Zarka, warned on Monday that the spread of cases and forced isolation will cause more and more stress in the workforce, especially in the health care system.
He has said that the Government is considering shortening the isolation periods for certain individuals who test positive but are asymptomatic.
The fourth dose for everyone?
More than 80 percent of Israeli adults have received two coronavirus vaccines, and more than half have been given booster doses.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said last month that Israel would administer a fourth dose to fight Omicron.
A citizen receiving a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Israel.
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About 254,000 Israelis receive the fourth dose of the vaccine
Some at-risk groups now have access to the fourth dose, although scientific evidence for its impact is scarce.
“Israel is open to doing things based on reason, without scientific evidence,” says Levine.
“Sometimes it’s worth it,” he adds.
Preliminary data from the Sheba Medical Center of Israel show a significant increase in antibodies in people who have received the fourth dose.
But, Cohen says it is difficult to draw any conclusions.
“I can understand the decision to enable it [dozën e katërt] for people who are at risk. “But we do not know if there will be any difference compared to the three doses”, says ai.rel
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