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– Declarations of winning the war against COVID-19 were premature – said Prof. Salman Zarek. According to the expert, the country must prepare itself for the fifth wave of the epidemic.
- Prof. Zarka admitted that the Delta variant “surprised” Israel, hence the growing number of new infections
- – I think we made some mistakes when we thought we won the war. Now we realize that it was just a battle and the war is still going on, said the expert
- There is still a large group of unvaccinated people in Israel. The country has also started giving a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
- Despite the increase in infections, prof. Zarka has no lockdown plans, and Israelis must learn to live with the virus
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
In view of worsening epidemic data during the fourth wave of the pandemic in Israel Zarka admitted that the country adopted an inadequate strategy against the coronavirus, as it did not use the period of significant decline in the number of infections to encourage the unvaccinated to take the vaccine. He also mentioned other “mistakes” and said that the Delta variant “surprised” Israel.
— I think we made some mistakes when we thought we won the war. Now we realize that it was just a battle and the war is still going on. We still need to explain and convince people to vaccinate – he said in an interview with the timesofisrael.com portal.
Despite thousands of new infections every day, Zarka has spoken out strongly against the lockdown and in favor of celebrating with families and in synagogues the upcoming Rosh Hashanah festival, which falls this year on September 6-8.
While rallies will lead to new infections, he said, it is part of the coexistence with the coronavirus that will likely require long periods of booster vaccinations, wearing face masks, and trying to avoid crowds.
– COVID-19 is with us and will stay with us. It is possible that we will have to wear masks for many months or even years He announced, admitting that “this virus changed the world”.
You can buy a set of FFP2 filtering masks at an attractive price at medonetmarket.pl
Israel has earned a reputation as a vaccine leader as it entered the vaccination campaign early and was extensive. However, when the country returned to normal operation in early spring, and there were suggestions that it might have already achieved herd immunity, efforts to encourage the rest of the population to vaccinate weakened. Vaccination of adolescents began in June, but it was not accompanied by a visible campaign.
Currently, in this country of over 9 million people, one million people entitled to this are unvaccinated, including 140. from the most vulnerable group over 50 years of age. In addition, Israel has shut down some antivirus programs, including the highly effective Magen Awot nursing home protection program.
“Two months ago, when we celebrated the victory over the virus and returned to normal life, we closed some programs and thought we had already won the war,” said Zarka, who was appointed on July 14. – We stopped explaining and trying to convince (unvaccinated) to vaccinate. And then when Delta and the Fourth Wave started, we’re on it again.
However, Zarka noted that Israel, like other countries, did not have sufficient data by making mistakes in the fight against the pandemic. – This is a new virus and we learn every day what will happen next. Based on our knowledge of virology, we thought COVID-19 would behave like the flu or other viruses, but unfortunately, Delta surprised us and hit us quickly.
According to the specialist, expectations for the future must be restrained, because the vision of returning to normalcy and the life known from before the pandemic in a foreseeable time is unrealistic. Instead, Israelis must realize that the country will respond to a changing pandemic with varying degrees of openness and closure.
See also: Israel: who gets COVID-19 most frequently despite receiving the vaccine?
Zarka is currently overseeing the booster dose action believed to be the most intense in the world. Almost 1,5 million people in Israel have already received the additional dose, and early studies show that it actually increases the level of antibodies.
A booster dose in Israel is now available to people over the age of 40, and for healthcare professionals and some other industries, younger people. The third dose was given to 2/3 of Israelis over 90, 71 percent. aged 80-89 and 76 percent at the age of 70-79.
According to Zarki, booster doses will now become part of life. – We have to consider waves (pandemics) with new (coronavirus) variants, such as the new one from South America. It seems that due to the weakening of the (effectiveness) of the vaccine and the (level of) antibodies, we will need a new injection every few months – maybe once a year or maybe every 5-6 months. He announced.
Zarka said he believes Israel will already be administering formulations that are more effective against the new variants late this year or early next.
– When people with a third dose get sick less often, the increase in new cases will slow down. This has to happen to Rosh Hashanah. Therefore, the matter is urgent and we strive for vaccinations in all situations and everywhere. We believe that if people get vaccinated before Rosh Hashanah, we will have fewer cases of serious illness. So I think that despite the fact that new infections will appear, there will not be enough of them to run out of places in the hospital – he said.
He expressed the belief that a lockdown on the holiday would be an “easy fix” but that it would be to the disadvantage of residents. According to him, during this time it will be possible to expect permission to gather up to 50 people in a closed room and up to 100 outside, as well as to leave synagogues open.
– I am not aiming for zero cases, I am aiming for such a level that the country will be able to continue to function with open markets, schools and the provision of necessary medical services – he reserved.
Małgorzata Wyrzykowska / PAP
This may interest you:
- Israel is losing out to the coronavirus. Delta is not the only reason
- “Hard days are coming.” The virus hit Israel hard
- What happens after the third dose? New study from Israel
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