Israel has succeeded in tackling a second wave of coronavirus but...

Following the world’s worst per capita rate of new coronavirus infections, Israel has had some success with a second lockdown.

Despite the reduction in new cases, there are now concerns about how long people will be willing to adhere to restrictions.

The government has begun a “gradual” relaxation of coronavirus restrictions after new daily cases fell from a high of 9,013 to below 2,000. However, the number of tests also decreased dramatically.

Serious cases have dropped from 926 to around 600 since the lockdown began on September 18, which epidemiologists say is a true indicator of success.

However, they estimate that another 400 to 500 people will die from the virus by the end of November.

The Israeli government found that the second lockdown was much less respected – and in some cases even defied – than the first.

“What we miss most is cooperation,” said national coronavirus project coordinator Ronni Gamzu.

The second nationwide lockdown coincided with the Jewish high holidays in mid-September, and business leaders at the time pledged not to adhere to the lockdown as senior ministers openly opposed it.

Anti-government protests continued in many locations across the country during the lockdown, with mass gatherings in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

As a result of this resistance, the Israeli coronavirus cabinet has set itself the task of figuring out how to comply with the remaining measures in order to avoid the recurrence of infections.

What do you do when people refuse to comply?

One big problem is the impatient and contrarian nature of Israelis, says Professor Orly Manor, statistician and chairman of the National Institute for Health Research in Israel.

“We’re very good at sprinting and we’re not good at marathon … and we’re not that obedient either,” she told ABC.

There are also fears that some in the worst infected community – ultra-Orthodox Jews – will avoid testing.

The insistence of some ultra-Orthodox sects on holding large gatherings during Jewish holy days in violation of lockdown rules – as well as poverty, large families, and overcrowded living conditions – resulted in a per capita infection rate five times higher than the general population.

Some seek treatment from volunteer groups rather than hospitalization – with a group in Jerusalem’s toughest ultra-Orthodox suburb treating up to 2,000 patients who have not been registered with the health authorities.

Senior rabbis ordered many religious schools separated from the Israeli mainstream system to reopen illegally this week.

Public health officials are concerned, especially since seminars for young ultra-Orthodox men before the second lockdown were a key vector for infection.

“I don’t think they have reached herd immunity, so I guess we’ll see another rise,” said the epidemiologist and professor at the Hebrew University’s Braun School of Public Health Ronit Calderon-Margalit.

People lost trust because the instructions were not communicated clearly

The government made efforts to stop demonstrations across the country during the lockdown. People protested the coronavirus rules and urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down on corruption allegations.

A recent poll by an independent think tank, conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute, found that more than half of the population – about 55 percent – believed the recent lockdown was due to political reasons.

“People have lost trust because the communication of the instructions is not clear. It doesn’t always make sense that it should be based on epidemiological evidence or data, ”said Professor Calderon-Margalit.

There have been some successes, however – the high rates in ultra-Orthodox communities contrasted with reductions in Palestinian Israeli territories.

Cities with Arab-majority populations also had high infection rates in early September – driven by mass weddings in the summer – but local officials said community-based campaigns educated residents, improved compliance, and drastically reduced case numbers.

The bigger challenge is making sure these campaign messages get to everyone.

Professor Calderon-Margalit has pointed out high-profile examples of politicians who themselves violate coronavirus rules.

“Our leaders really lack… to be role models,” she said.