These days there is good news coming from the front of the fight in Corona, according to which there is a decrease in the number of severely ill patients, a decrease in the rate of verified of all tests and a decrease in the coefficient of infection.
If the trend continues - soon the fourth wave will be behind us.
The decline in the fourth wave is unequivocally due to the correct, uncomplicated and pioneering decision of the State of Israel to be vaccinated against the urge to vaccinate even before FDA approval.
This decision has been adopted by other countries around the world and is supported by groundbreaking studies conducted in Israel, which indicate the effectiveness of the third vaccine and minimal side effects compared to the short-term and long-term damage that some recoverers from the virus suffer from.
Despite the optimism, we should not rush to celebrate, as we did at the end of the previous waves.
As long as the virus infects the world, and there are countries where not even a first vaccine is given - there is a chance of developing mutations.
Second, the severe corona damage is evident in the inpatient wards, which also treat severely ill patients who have recovered but remain attached to the acuum and awaiting lung donation.
At Sheba Medical Center, lungs have so far been transplanted in three recoveries, and unfortunately there are other candidates waiting for a lung donation.
In medicine, caution is warranted as a worldview, and we must learn to live safely alongside the corona.
First and foremost, we must learn from the lessons of the previous waves and accept for the future.
First, the green grade model should be applied.
Both in Sheba and around the world, the effectiveness of the model has been proven in reducing infection and significantly reducing isolation.
It is better to take the calculated risk right now and apply the model in the afternoon as well, to allow our children to live a normal life alongside the corona.
Strengthen the health system
Beyond that, as with any ceasefire, it is also time to prepare for the next round.
The medical staffs stood at the forefront and enabled the opening of the economy;
Intensive care teams are also currently treating Corona patients severely, post-Corona patients and patients arriving in hospitals under other circumstances.
The State of Israel must strengthen the health system now.
There is a shortage of intensive care beds in Israel compared to Western countries.
After the second wave, the health system presented the government with a plan to add 321 beds.
Training requires intensive care team training.
The decision to condition the number of devices on the health system on an unreasonable number of patients in Corona - which fortunately we did not reach - is a serious mistake and I wish we did not pay a heavy price for it.
Another lesson that must be internalized is that the loopholes in Ben Gurion Airport must be closed. It is not possible that almost two years since the outbreak of the epidemic, no answer has been found that will prevent new mutations from entering the country. Tighten the punishment against corona deniers who spread false information.The damping of the fourth wave is proof of the winning recipe of cooperation between the government, the health system and the citizens of the country.If we join forces even now, we can defeat the next waves, hoping they do not shatter us.
The author is a deputy director of Sheba Medical Center and a member of the advisory team for Magen Israel, former director general of the Ministry of Health.