In Israel, omicron, confusion drive 'real panic' for tests
In Israel, omicron, confusion drive 'real panic' for tests
TEL AVIV (AP) — Aviran Yael fetched rapid antigen kits from a pharmacy in Tel Aviv’s busy center, placed them in the light blue bag strapped to the back of his motorbike and headed off to deliver them.
With that, Yael on Monday joined a growing army of couriers toting Wolt delivery boxes around Israel, a sight that has become ubiquitous in the three years since the Finnish company began operating here.
The payload in the blue boxes changed when the Israeli government last week authorized more at-home testing to take the burden off of testing centers.
Almost immediately, as the omicron coronavirus variant set infection records, rapid antigen tests became the platform’s most in-demand product — even more than food, its core delivery business, officials said.
By Monday, as Wolt opened a modern headquarters in a blue building in Tel Aviv, someone was ordering an antigen test every three seconds - a reflection of widespread public anxiety and confusion over the government’s constantly changing pandemic policies.
“There’s real panic for these tests,” said Yael.
Even in relatively wealthy, small Israel, the government and the governed are struggling with the stunning surge of omicron as it rips around the globe, raising anxiety in a place already known for tension. Since the variant emerged in South Africa in November, the government has closed and re-opened the airport, changed testing policies, tightened and loosened quarantine requirements and confused people about whether and how to send their kids to school.
Facing sagging public support, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned this week that between 2 million and 4 million people among Israel’s population of 9.4 million are expected to be infected by the variant.
On Monday, Israel reported 21,514 new cases, another all-time high. The number of serious cases crept up to 222, a figure that remains well below the highs experienced during previous waves of the coronavirus. Bennett has said preventing serious illness and hospitalizations is his main concern.
Nearly two-thirds of the public is displeased, according to a poll for Israel’s Channel 12 TV. Sixty-three percent of the Israeli public said it views the government’s handling of the omicron crisis as bad, as opposed to 34% who said they thought the crisis was being managed well. That’s up from 54% disapproval in August.
Cabinet members complained during Sunday’s meeting about the dissonance of tightening and loosening requirements — then allowing people to crowd soccer stadiums for games.
“We keep getting asked for clarifications all day long,” said Economy and Industry Minister Orna Barbivai. “The sense among the public is that the government has conceded the fight against the coronavirus.”
