More than 530 Israeli doctors signed an independent petition in the last few days, slamming the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
The petition stated that the efforts to curb the spread of the virus are hopeless and are causing a surge in deaths and serious cases, while also “bringing about an economic disaster and human suffering for millions of Israeli citizens,” Israeli media site N12 reported on Sunday.
The petition, the initiative of a physician from central Israel, which spread across social media, noted that according to data accumulated over the past months, all resources and efforts should be focused on protecting the elderly and high-risk groups because the virus does not affect greater portions of the younger population who get infected but only develop mild symptoms if any - and therefore should not be subject to any government restrictions and be allowed to work and roam freely.
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Demonstrators in Tel Aviv protesting against the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic
(Photo: Tal Shahar)
The physicians argue that an economic recession could be avoided and that with the younger populations contracting and transmitting the virus - all the while developing at most light symptoms - herd-immunity could be advanced, which would bring about an end to the virus spread.
They also claimed that their voices were not being listened to by the government when deciding policy because officials in the Health Ministry prevent any alternative discussion over the best steps that should be taken.