One hundred and forty people have died from the coronavirus in recent months, and Israel is taking great pains to avoid the scenario presently unfolding in New York, which is seeing a quick and exponential rise in the number of deaths. At the same time, however, more than a few people in Israel are dying and could continue to die because of fear; fear of the virus that is preventing them from seeking treatment for urgent medical problems.
The country's leadership is busy formulating an exit plan from the quarantine, set to begin after the Passover holiday. Everyone understands that these reduced restrictions don't mean a return to normalcy, rather a return to "routine amid the presence of the coronavirus," a routine that still combines physical social distancing, wearing masks in public places, avoiding large gatherings and meticulous personal and environmental hygiene. Yet still – routine, a modicum of normalcy in the global storm.
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However, amid all the discussions about the exit strategy, it seems one vital aspect has been brushed to the side of the public's interest: routine medical care. This critical apparatus was one of the first "victims" of the transition to the emergency national footing, with a series of directives to dramatically reduce activity in hospitals, with an emphasis on surgeries and elective (non-urgent) procedures, out-patient clinics and "reserving" beds for corona patients. Even among the public, despite a dramatic increase in online activity there has been a general decrease in physical visits for treatment.
To be clear: The scenario the Health Ministry is preparing for is realistic if the disease spirals out of control, and it's crucial to use this valuable time to prepare for the flood experienced by many countries in Europe and the United States.
This is the time, therefore, to increase the healthcare system's emergency capacity – to do everything possible to expedite the admission of new workers into the field and train them, invest resources in creating new hospitalization options similar to Germany, which doubled the number of beds in intensive care units and is building new hospitals, and also establishing generous incentive benefits packages for those medical workers risking their own welfare on the front lines on behalf of us all.
But the wait for this menacing situation to materialize (or not), could last for months of "routine in the presence of the coronavirus." Already now, on the verge of the initial steps to lift restrictions, we must go back and create "routine medical care in the presence of the coronavirus." In this new routine, we must provide a worthy response for the millions of patients who, due to the stoppage of elective healthcare, postponed procedures, surgeries, and other necessary treatments.
Now, we must gradually restore these services to partial activity in a calculated and measured fashion. If we keep the healthcare system paralyzed for a period of months, patients will pay the price with their health.
And some of these patients, sadly, are already paying the price. Due to their natural fear of contracting the coronavirus, people have also postponed receiving urgent care and have died as a result. It's important to note: Chest pain, exacerbated depression and other acute ailments should frighten us much more than the coronavirus.
Any sign of severe deterioration necessitates, even now, an urgent visit to your personal health fund or hospital, in accordance with the severity of the situation. The staff there, for their part, are ready and are implementing the proper separation measures to prevent infection. The risk of contracting the coronavirus during a visit to the hospital or local clinic is miniscule in comparison to the disability and irreversible damage that other diseases can cause. If you are feeling ill – don't hesitate, go get checked, and don't die from fear.
