Israel to officially recognize the end of the COVID-19 pandemic
Israel bids farewell to the COVID-19 pandemic in January, as Israel transfers its government-run testing facilities to the country’s health care services.
By the end of next month, the once deadly virus will be downgraded to a regular virus with properties similar to that of the flu. Additionally, there will no longer be a quarantine demand for anyone suffering from COVID-19.
The decision to suddenly move the virus management to the country’s health care providers has left many in the sector feeling ill-prepared to take on the burden without an enhanced budget and more time to plan for the extra task they inherited at a time when flu cases are at their highest peak.
Israeli Ministry of Health advisor Cyrille Cohen was a proponent of downgrading the pandemic to “endemic,” saying he believes that Israeli society has learned to live with the virus and noting that COVID-19 cases have remained at a fairly steady rate for many months.
The planned downgrade is predicated on approval by the incoming government as well as on having no significant rise in cases.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
