By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D
JERUSALEM –Coronavirus is not finished with us. Or with you.
Lots of us are vaccinated. But there are hundreds of thousands who have avoided the needle. They are most of the sick, but not all.
Currently more than two thousand here are testing as sick each day, with 150 or so seriously ill. We’re still far from the point of over-loaded hospitals, but some are re-opening Coronavirus wards.
And our leaders are arguing. Many of them with an eye to next month, and the opening of school. That’s likely to send infections higher. Even with masks warn inside, there’ll be a lot of hugging and other close contact.
Among the items being debated:-
How long should an isolation last? Three days or a week?
So far there are tens of thousand of kids and others supposedly closed up, but who knows? And that is mostly from summer camp.
What about overseas trips? Politicians are urging Israelis to stay home, but a lot are leaving for a summer holiday. Many are going to populations that are highly infected. And coming home ill. Then staying isolated upon return, for how long? Many are skipping outside of the rules.
There is a list of highly infected countries where it is forbidden to travel, and substantial fines for those found to have gone there, but what about connecting flights? It’s possible to fly from here to a “safe” country, then transfer to one that is unsafe.
There’s been a sharp increase of infections among Arabs, much of it linked to visits in Turkey. And an increase in infections among the ultra-Orthodox.
No doubt there is considerable avoidance, both of what is advised and what is forbidden. The police check up and issue fines, but most likely for a small percentage of the violations.
What limitations are to be imposed?
Who can come to Israel? Those who are not Israelis need the approval of a government body. No casual visitors allowed. That is, those who are not close relatives of Israelis, unless they have a convincing reason for their trip..
What about mass gatherings? Weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvot, and other celebrations, as well as prayer groups? Not over 100, and only those vaccinated, cured, or tested allowed to participate. And maybe kids too young to be vaccinated. .
Our own retirement village has been closed to those not cured or vaccinated, so that excludes night-time visits by grandchildren too young for a vaccination.
The village re-instituted weekly testing of staff, and has found one cleaner who tested positive. That raised a flag. So far we’ve been advised to avoid contact with cleaners during the weekly clean of our apartments.
What about a third shot?
For those over 60, or 70? Even before a clear message from the research? Israel has a high incidence of vaccinations, but still lots who have avoided it. And what about lowering the age, perhaps to 5, of those to be vaccinated? And to do it in school? Or would that limit parents’ choice? Arguments between the Minister of Education and experts in the Ministry of Health. The Education Minister used the term “criminal” against those who would vaccinate kids in their schools. A bit of an overspeak.
Only a month ago we felt ourselves freed from all these problems, but no longer. Too much travel, too much mixing, too much avoidance of limitations and restrictions.
Something like a million Israelis who qualify for vaccination have refused to accept it. They are the most likely to suffer illness, a serious form of it, and death.
And what to do about the opening of schools? That comes next month. Along with the religious holidays. What about family visits? On previous holidays, many of the country’s grandparents celebrated alone. This year, too?
We’ll see.
*
Ira Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted via ira.sharkansky@sdjewishworld.com