Have you asked yourself why the chain of infection is moving at a frightening pace?
Here is one explanation: A case involving a Jew, a resident of the Torah and Hasidic city of Bnei Brak, whose son tested positive for the coronavirus. This is a family with several children.
When the news was received that the son was infected, the entire family went into isolation, and the frightened father of the family turned to the 'Maccabi' health insurance company, of which he is a member, on Sunday and asked to be tested. His 'help' was the fact that he developed symptoms. That is, unlike the son who tested positive and did not develop symptoms, the father, who had not yet been tested, had a fever, coughed - and also lost his sense of taste. All the signs that he had contracted the coronavirus.
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The father received a referral from his family doctor to have a test done, but then the difficulties began. The next available appointment for the test is only...for Tuesday. But for the father, it was definitely urgent.
Why urgent?
Because he comes into contact with many people - three prayers a day in minyan, work, shopping, and more. If he is indeed found positive - everyone who was near him should also go into isolation. Because otherwise - they continue the chain of infection without even knowing about it!
Then, you'll be surprised how the numbers keep growing at a frightening rate.
""Sir, there is a possibility of testing only on Tuesday," Maccabi insisted. "If you would like to come early, we have it on Monday, but in Ramat Gan.".
""Ramat Gan?" - wondered my son Barki. "I don't have a car, I can only get there by bus" (again, don't forget: the man is required to quarantine, he is a father and son who contracted the coronavirus, and he himself has symptoms).
""No problem," they told him on the phone. "Come at your convenience...""
If he didn't use his brain and realize that it was irresponsible, he would get on a bus from Bnei Brak to the neighboring city, and of course, on the way, he might infect all his neighbors for the journey. Unless everyone wore a mask and kept their distance. You're lucky if you believe that this is the case. The rate of infection proves that it is far from that.
The father contacted me, and a tweet I posted on my Twitter account helped the father. Somehow, there was an appointment at the clinic on Rabbi Akiva Street, just yesterday...
Bnei Brak resident number:
My child was infected with the coronavirus, I myself have a fever and symptoms, I repeatedly asked for a test - without response (Maccabi member).
And I ask: Why are people supposed to beg for a test?? To activate communication??— Sari Rot (@sari_rot) June 28, 2020
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Now it's the turn of the mother of the family and her other children.
They have no symptoms, but they ask to be tested. Why? To get out of the nightmare as quickly as possible. How long can you isolate children under one roof, in a not-so-large apartment?
This is where they got stuck.
The Clalit health insurance company, of which the mother and children are members, refused to grant them the right to a checkup. So what if every month they part with hundreds of shekels in taxes and fees for the service that the health insurance company is supposed to provide them?.
And again, remember the chain of transmission. If one of the children or the mother, or all of them together, did indeed contract the coronavirus from the sick sibling (even if symptoms have not yet appeared), we must quickly reach out to everyone who came into contact with them - the kindergarten class, the Talmud Torah class, Beit Yaakov, the mother's workplace, the grocery store where she did her shopping, etc.
Otherwise, what good would the Shin Bet's images be because you're standing next to a confirmed patient, if you're not in a hurry to find out which one of them is carrying the disease?
But in 'Clalit' there is no rush.
Haredim 10 contacted the spokeswoman for the Clalit Health Fund for a response. The request was made at 12:00. At 16:30, a message was received: "The family received the request and MDA will come to check on them at home.".
I checked with the father of the family. It turned out that this was indeed the case. The appeal helped.
And what will someone do who doesn't have information about which journalist to contact? - I wondered to the speaker.
""Let him contact the cashier and ask for an inspection," he replied to me.
Well, let's go back to the beginning of our story. They asked and were denied...
Here is the official response from 'Clalit':
According to Ministry of Health guidelines, a coronavirus test is performed in the event of one or more of the following symptoms:
• Fever of 38 degrees or higher.
• Cough or difficulty breathing or other respiratory symptoms (excluding runny nose - if it is an isolated symptom).
• Change in sense of taste or loss of sense of taste or smell.
The Ministry of Health also recommends that the following people undergo a coronavirus test (and they must also go into isolation for 14 days from the moment of exposure to the confirmed patient):
• Household members of a confirmed patient - even if they do not suffer from the above symptoms.
• Asymptomatic individuals who were in close contact with a confirmed patient within educational institutions and were referred for isolation.
If you or your children are suffering from one or more of the symptoms or meet one or more of the criteria listed above, you can contact your family doctor or pediatrician and request a referral for a coronavirus test.
It is important to note that the final decision regarding whether to perform the test rests with the pediatrician or family doctor.
"Clalit operates according to the Ministry of Health's guidelines for the health of its customers.".
I read it, and I had a hard time believing it: This is exactly the case: "Household members of a confirmed patient even if they do not suffer from the above symptoms.".
So why should the media intervene so that a person gets what he deserves in court?
I did not receive an answer to this question.
Then, they will roll their eyes in horror as the number of daily infections continues to break records. And they will giggle loudly about the option of "reintroducing the lockdown" with all that it entails, including the deterioration of the financial situation of entire families who are living on a bread roll.
If all of this can be prevented by testing everyone who applies or is eligible, why not do it - and preferably one hour earlier?!
No response was received from the Maccabi Health Fund.
