In Israel it is like pre-pandemic times and people are back to partying in this tiny Middle East nation at a time more and more Indian states are imposing stricter measures to combat a massive surge in coronavirus cases.
Israel has achieved a creditable milestone by vaccinating most of its adults since January 2021, when it started its mass vaccination drive. This has now led to the country with a population of close to one crore lifting restrictions in movement and outdoor mask requirements. However, people are still required to wear masks in indoor public spaces such as places of worship, malls, etc.
Now, Israelis are jubilantly resuming routines that were disrupted over a year ago, and if successful, this could be a model and success story that could provide much-needed relief for other nations trying to achieve the same.
Over 81 per cent of the population in Israel is aged 16 and above and this age group has been vaccinated using the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. The result has been a drastic reduction in contagions and hospitalisations.
How Israel opened up
Israel’s restaurants have started becoming full, numerous music concerts are being held across the country, bars and hotels are open to those who can show their ‘Green Pass’ (vaccine certificates) and schools are back to pre-Covid capacities. All thanks to the rate of new infections plummeting from a peak of almost 10,000 a day to about 85 this week. Not to forget, the number of serious coronavirus cases in many hospitals has also come down to single digits.
The Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv had converted its parking space into a makeshift emergency Covid-19 ward at the peak of Israel’s fight against the virus. The place has now returned to its original form.
Caution still in place
Israel continues to limit non-essential entry of foreigners, and non-immune Israelis who return from abroad must self-isolate over concerns that other new virus variants could challenge the efficacy of vaccines administered in the country.
This is even as the health ministry detected seven cases of the new Indian variant, whose potency is being assessed. Therefore, health officials are quick to caution that the pandemic is not over. Countries around Israel and elsewhere continue to see high rate of infections.
Is Israel achieving herd immunity?
This happens when enough of a population has protection against an infection that it stops being able to spread – and even people who don’t themselves have immunity are indirectly protected.
For Covid the estimated threshold for herd immunity is at least 65%-70%.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to US President Joe Biden described advantages the Jewish state has had in fighting the virus, such as its small population.
“I think that the history of Israel, because of its size and political circumstances, knows how to stick together as a single unit.” He stated clearly that he strongly believes Israel will achieve “herd immunity”