Tel-Chai Nation

A professor at the health ministry says the Israeli government's dealt with the Coronavirus situation well, with Bnei Brak remaining one exception for now:

Israel has succeeded in stopping the spread of the coronavirus and now needs to figure out how to exit the lockdown, deputy director of the Health Ministry Prof. Itamar Grotto told Ynet on Sunday.

"I think we can say that we've pretty much succeeded in the stage of stopping the spread [of the coronavirus]," said Grotto. "Now it's important to see that we aren't missing it and therefore we need to first off continue the lockdown throughout Passover, and afterwards to think and discuss when we can start to change. There are essential questions concerning timing, the scope of the exit and the order of the exit: who exits first and who exits afterwards."

The Health Ministry official stressed that there could be results of the large outbreak in Bnei Brak that will only be seen in a few more days, and then there will be a rise in the number of deaths. "Except for this story, it can be said that we're in a relatively stable situation, and we're in the stopping phase. Now we need to see how we get out of this," said Grotto.

Concerning plans for "the day after" the lockdown ends, the professor explained that there are a few things that everyone agrees on: everyone will need to wear masks for a long time, testing will need to continue for a long time and safety measures in the public arena, including good hygiene and keeping distance from others, will need to be closely followed as well.

Grotto told Ynet he believes that a timetable needs to be formed detailing when restrictions will begin to be lifted, even though others in the Health Ministry believe it's too early to do so. "I think it's important that the goal be that we will have a plan with an organized timetable: that the public understands that there's an organized plan. Also, if there's a plan on Sunday, it will convey more confidence to the public and to businesses, of course," said Grotto.

So far, the spread appears to be on the decline. I'd estimate Haredi neighborhoods like Bnei Brak and some parts of Jerusalem will take longer until they can be approved for easing restrictions, because the negligence of the gurus, whom the subjects obey far too much, led to much of this, along with indoctrination in their yeshivas. One of the ultra-Orthodox victims of Corona was former chief rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron. I certainly hope, following this outbreak and the irresponsibility of the Haredi leaderships, that the communities will start questioning their gurus and realize it pays better to think for oneself.

And let's hope, following this whole situation, that steps will be taken to ensure something dreadful like this doesn't happen again.

Labels: communications, haredi corruption, Israel, Jerusalem, Knesset