LyrArc Article Gist
Israel remains a laboratory for the rest of the world in tackling coronavirus. During the beginning of 2021 Israel was the first country to push ahead with Pfizer vaccines for the over 18 population in a country of 10 million people. As winter approaches Israel has given a third booster shot to 50% of the population and is able to conduct normal life with a green pass system and the use of masks indoors. Each time a major surge has been prevented. The green pass in Israel is now for people who have had a third shot or booster shot. By thinking one step ahead, making decisions rapidly, and coordinating action early between the government and other organizations to vaccinate everyone, Israel provides lessons for the rest of the world. Not that there are no unvaccinated -about 700,000 people do not believe in vaccination and are unvaccinated. They are a vocal group but only about 8% of the population, and the vast majority of Israelis are in favor of vaccination and the green pass system. ...

LyrArc Article Gist
Senay Boztas writes from Amsterdam, Netherlands, that the strict lockdown in the Netherlands is a result of a badly handled coronavirus policy response. The Dutch experience is offered as a lesson other countries can learn from. It too long to form a government after Dutch elections in March, 271 days so that it took too long to have a policy response. When a policy response was made it faltered badly with too relaxed a lifting of restrictions without essential distancing and mask use. Restrictions at super spreader events at night clubs and stadiums were lifted all at once. The government failed to develop a policy of anticipating the next wave from variants by planning early for a booster campaign. (Israel is already into its fourth booster shot as reported in NYT).  The result is that instead of a calibrated response, because infections make up 15% of tests, Netherlands is in a sharp lockdown. A policy of prime minister Rutte that put too much into the idea of freedoms with different meanings in the west calling Holland a "slightly anarchistic country that doesn't need a preachy government," rejected vaccine mandate of any kind as in France and Austria for public transport and restaurants.   ...