Israel Deals with a Second Covid-19 Wave

Israel is taking action to thwart their second wave of the coronavirus (Covid-19), which has plunged the country back into lockdown. As of July 3rd, it had 11,024 active cases with 84 people in serious condition, including 32 on ventilators. This past weekend, 977 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed just on their Sabbath alone, with four more deaths.

Israel is about the same size as New Jersey.

This tiny country has been scrambling to halt this outbreak. Tourism in Israel is one of their major sources of income, and because of Covid-19, their spring tourists were blocked from travel. The fall travel season begins early September, which gives them just two months to get this pandemic under control.

Government leaders are working on tighter restrictions and quarantines.They have begun a controversial tracking surveillance program which tracks coronavirus carriers and those with whom they were in contact. They sent messages to thousands on Saturday, instructing them to enter quarantine. Many Israelis who received the messages called their Health Ministry to appeal but were unable to get through due to an extraordinarily large number of callers. The Ministry will also track whether those same people show signs of catching the virus again.

The Shin Bet (police/security service) are increasing their enforcement of social distancing guidelines in an attempt to curb any further spread. On July 3rd, police handed out 3,097 fines to Israelis who allegedly violated the restrictions. While the police were gearing up their enforcement, the Border Police Commander, Yaakov “Kobi” Shabtai, tested positive for the virus. According to the Israeli Defense Force, there are currently 203 service members infected.

One of Song For Israel’s partners, Archaeologist Thomas Winder, departed last week from the United States to return to his home and work in Israel; he got as far as Newark, NJ, and was not allowed to proceed due to Israel closing their borders again.

While we pray that God cleanses our own United States from this horrible pandemic, please remember to pray the same for Israel as well.