Things are changing in Israel. We’re beginning to get out of the crisis mode brought about by the COVID-19 epidemic. The crisis put over a million people, almost half of the actual working population, out of work. Many were just placed on vacation without pay. It was hoped the pandemic would end quickly and they could return to their previous jobs. That did not match reality. Many businesses, especially small ones, were closed down by restrictions on movement and assembly. Schools were shut down. When the first steps toward “normalization” were announced there were expectations of major changes. They were not realized. With no school, parents were often unable to return to work. Many restrictions remained in place so the tourist and entertainment industries could not resume life as before. The first sports events took place, but without an audience in the arenas.
One of the interesting developments was the reaction of the public to various stimulus and compensatory payments given by the government. Many groups and individuals did not receive any of those benefits. They organized demonstrations against the government that were unique in that the demonstrators maintained “social distancing” so the groups took up much more physical space than they would have before the pandemic. When schools did begin to re-open, it was done gradually. Only certain grades returned to class, and the number of pupils in each room was drastically limited. Teachers protested that they were being exposed to unnecessary risks. Now that all schools are open there seems to be some element of truth to their complaint. There were only six new cases of infection reported in the country yesterday. This included one teacher and two students. The school they came from is once again under lockdown.
Bottom line. We are still buying our groceries on-line. Hopefully we’ll go back to our regular shopping routine in another two weeks. The lines at the shops, and, in fact, almost all businesses are longer because of keeping a 6 foot (2 meter) distance. Hotels are re-opening, but without breakfast buffets, and the dining halls are marked by extended space between tables. Swimming pools are still closed. The lifeguards returned to the public beaches on the coast yesterday. They were joined by additional patrols to keep people from joining in large groups or being too close to one another. Oh, yes, and to enforce the rules on wearing face masks, too. We’re returning to “normal”. But it isn’t the same normal we were used to before Corona.
Wetherhorn 