On the eve of Yom Kippur, each one of us is asked to do some soul-searching. Almost two years have passed since the outbreak of the COVID pandemic. The world as a whole and Israel, in particular, have been rocked off their axes, and it looks like this year it is more important and meaningful than usual for us to reflect.
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This is the time to internalize the lessons we have learned since COVID came into our lives, including the humility with which the forces of nature should be confronted. This is also the time to reach new conclusions that will allow us to live safely alongside the virus – especially given the fact that it will likely remain with us for some time.
The healthcare system and medical workers have been on the frontline of the battle against COVID from the beginning and are continuing the national mission, fighting bravely and with devotion for the life of every patient. They are worn out. In addition to the everyday load they handle, they need to treat COVID patients – some of whom are in very serious condition.
This is the time to thank the angels in white for their devotion and hard work. This is also the time to strengthen the public healthcare system and ensure that it receives the necessary tools to offer appropriate care for COVID patients, regular patients, and the patient load expected this coming winter.
Israel is currently at a critical point at which it is trying to learn how to live safely alongside the virus. The two main decisions by the last two governments to be the first in the world to vaccinate the entire population and then to administer booster shots are proving themselves to be correct. The percentage of COVID patients in intensive care who have received booster shots is down significantly, and the vast majority of patients in serious condition have either not been vaccinated or have not gotten booster shots.
On the eve of Yom Kippur, we are also asked to reflect on how we treat each other. In the context of COVID, those who have not been vaccinated and comprise a disproportionally large percentage of the serious cases, and the burden on hospitals force us to divert experienced medical staff to their care at the expense of other patients. They need to change their approach and get vaccinated to help contain the virus.
Responsibility for each other is part of the essence of being accountable to each other. The idea of the grandfather sitting next to us in synagogue, the cancer patient waiting in line at the supermarket, or the immunocompromised child should be enough to prompt us to act responsibly and get vaccinated.
The eyes of the scientific world are on Israel. We are producing groundbreaking studies, including some that have proved that the vaccine is safe, provides 90% protection against serious illness, and reduces both the spread of the virus and infection. The higher the percentage of vaccinated people in Israel and elsewhere, the closer we come to putting COVID behind us.
Other than encouraging vaccination, we need to increase testing – both PCR and rapid antigen. Being careful to be tested and following quarantine regulations should the need arise; wearing masks in closed spaces and during crowded events outdoors; and adhering to the rules of the green pass all demand personal responsibility as well as stiffer enforcement. We need to improve in all these areas, a lot, in the new year.
And on a personal note, I am asking for the forgiveness of the medical staff who have been caring for patients devotedly, without rest, since the start of the pandemic. It took me time to understand that beyond the physical difficulty and the exhausting and endless work, they are also undergoing immense emotional difficulty in dealing with a sense of helplessness when treating COVID patients desperate for oxygen, whom we can't help. We have provided emotional support for staff, even if we were late.
This lesson in humility is one of many we have all learned as we have dealt with COVID. But the most important lesson is that if we all put our backs into it and take action while looking out for each other, we will defeat COVID.
May you all be inscribed in the book of life!
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