Corona Commissioner refuses to give up: "I do not resign - do not leave such a position at such an event" • On the traffic light program: "We managed to change the discourse - authorities are fighting not to be red" • On the night curfew: "Whoever laughs at it does not understand epidemiology - Weddings and entertainment take place at night "
Prof. Roni Gamzo
Photo:
Gideon Markovich
For more than a month now, Prof. Roni Gamzo has been in charge of the Corona in Israel.
In a special interview with "Israel Today", Prof. Gamzo talks about the expected restrictions on the holidays, the criticism he receives and answers the question of whether he will resign: "You do not leave such a position during an event with such complexity, even if there are difficulties in making decisions along the way."
On the traffic light plan he said: "The traffic light is a powerful tool for treating an epidemic. It does not lower but change the discourse. Instead of treating nationally you incentivize authorities to fight for their city. Look what discourse it creates, when every authority fights and says I am not red. Too bad not. They did it 5-4 months ago, if I had it a month ago, everyone would have entered the race. "
On the limited steps finally approved: "I was able to convey a concept in which a red city understands not only the current limitations, but it will get additional restrictions if it continues to be red. Tomorrow we will decide on a night curfew, with the significant understanding that it is a means of reducing morbidity. It is unpleasant."
Credit: Mazawi Communications, Ministry of Health's Public Information System
Referring to criticism that the closure move at night presents the virus as if it distinguishes between night and day, he said: "Whoever laughs at it does not understand epidemiology - being infected in the corona at night - in places of entertainment and weddings. In the Arab sector we needed closure at night, not in the morning. "It is a demagogue. It is true that it is possible to be infected during the day. There is also a night curfew in the world, it is not an Israeli invention. The idea of a night curfew was intended and there was an institute to stop weddings that created 500 infections for us every day."
He added about the difficulty in enforcement: "The corona exposes the challenges and weaknesses of the State of Israel. The investment in their Arab settlement, the limited obedience to public order, the connection between the central government and the local government, the overcrowding in classrooms and the difficulty of the enforcement system.
Regarding the holidays, Prof. Gamzo refrained from commenting on the closure format: "Holidays in Israel will not be ordinary holidays. We do want to reassure gatherings and family and mass meals. Corona is contagious in convergence with eating. It is a classic contagion event all over the world. There will be a recommendation to reassure. "Discussions are currently taking place. There will be a recommendation to calm down at gatherings and to give up an endless round of meals. The steps must be accurate, measured and not too extensive."
