Generally most kashrut certificates form the Rabbanut for restaurants and other food establishments are renewed twice a year - from Rosh Hashana until Erev Pesach with the new certificate granted right after Pesach, and from just after Pesach until Erev Rosh Hashana, with the new certificate granted just after Rosh Hashana.
We have all been taught to check the kashrut certificate to make sure it is valid and not expired. We hear all sorts of stories about we didn't renew it yet but nothing changed, or the Rabbanut is working on it, the Rabbanut is overwhelmed and will send out the new certificates within the next week, etc. Yet we are all taught to not accept such excuses and if the certificate is expired, you can't eat there because it is not supervised.
Well, listen to this story.
According to the post by Bakery Boutique, the kashrut certificate expired on Erev Rosh Hashana but they have yet to get the new certificate from the Bet Shemesh Rabbanut.
The proprietor contacted the Rabbanut representative and asked for the new certificate to be sent over. The rabbi in charge, whose name and phone number is on the expired certificate, got back to her and explained apologetically that he can't right now because the entire staff of the Rabbanut is either in quarantine or actually has CoronaVirus. He said that her business is still kosher and he will vouch for her and anyone with any questions about it or issues with it can call him and ask.
I do wonder how they can vouch for kashrut if they have no ability to send a mashgiach every now and then to check, but maybe part of it is relying on her and a knowledgeable and religious person (often a "neeman kashrut" employee is relied on so that the mashigiach can be present less frequently).
Regardless of that issue, it seems kashrut supervision has become a victim of CoronaVirus. If you walk into an establishment and see the certificate expired, show some understanding rather than hostility. CoronaVirus is creating unusual and unexpected situations for many people....
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