Despite the achievements in curbing the virus, it is important to internalize that the corona is still with us • The fight is not over, but the advantage is that we know more today • Total decisions are true when uncertainty is total, but in the new situation there is no justification to return to full closure policy even if the virus raises its head
Declining the pace of infection and recovery from the corona virus in Israel as it seems in the past two weeks leaves no doubt - we are in the stage of deciding against the virus, certainly in the current round. And yet it must be understood and understood - it may be a victory in battle, but not yet a victory in the campaign.
Photo: Shimon Yaish
Dealing with biological warfare, as we have shown in the series of articles on the subject, is very similar to dealing with terrorism. The similarities are present in decentralized, sometimes uncontrolled, contexts of breathing, adapting life patterns to changing realities over time, adapting unique responses and relying on precise intelligence to isolate specific areas of action - all while maintaining functional continuity among most of the nation's citizens.
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As the infection and recovery data reflect, since the beginning of March, a number of very significant decisions have been made by the government that have enabled the conditions to contain and prevent the virus from spreading: halting inbound and outbound flights, accelerating infrastructure and equipment availability, establishing nourishing capacity and isolating patients, alongside or Or targeted as needed.
These decisions, and probably in combination with the behavior of the population (especially the veteran population) have resulted in the virus not being out of control, and are now at a decaying stage that allows risk-taking and return to almost complete routine. The curve in Israel has not flattened, in fact it is Ruska. In recent days, we have seen a doubling rate in recoverers, and a steady decline in the severely ill and respiratory patients. This is undoubtedly a moment of determination against the virus, but the obvious question is whether it is a total, or local, decision.
The likely scenario is that until a vaccine, or a solution to eliminate the virus is found, the danger of spreading exists. And the emphasis on finding a vaccine targeted for the following fall or winter. And this is where internalization is important, both at the systemic and civil levels - everything that has been learned so far in decisions and patterns of action must be assimilated, in parallel with the scientific race to find a solution.
At the system level - the ability to monitor morbidity, target action space isolation, and concentrate effort in the face of battered areas is essential. In this context, there is positive learning from integrating the Home Front Command into operations carried out in Bnei Brak or Netivot as an example of the need for targeted response and transfer of responsibility to the military, in order to enable functional continuity elsewhere.
Another system-level is the need to provide targeted response in hospitals, while isolating Corona patients from the others. It may even be appropriate to think of responding to a temporary hospital for corona patients, which will allow for more targeted, specialized isolation. In any case, similar to terrorist situations - when there is targeted assault, the answer is to isolate the scope of action, and be intercepted by a special force. This is what we need to do mainly because it is understood that the pandemic does not attack the entire country, but some areas with certain patterns of action.
Another system-level issue is the decisions on total closures, including the closure of the economy and the economy. Here, several action scenarios with scalable decisions have to be built. It can be understood today that total closure is not bound by reality. We understand that the main problems involve a rally, so what rallies cannot work if the plague comes back. This means that in places where there is no gathering there is no need to harden.
Moshe Ben Simhon, newsenders, Paz Bar
Total decisions are true when the uncertainty is total, or when under catastrophe. The total decision in Israel was mainly due to the dimension of uncertainty - mainly the lack of awareness of the virus, and the need to establish an infrastructure for its inclusion. In the next round we will be in a completely different place and not required in total closures.
One last issue is the at-risk population - we have undoubtedly discovered gaps here that need to be addressed. The at-risk age group, with background disease sufferers, is required by other rules of action and with a different response. On the one hand, they will allow them to function and, on the other hand, reduce their exposure. This requires a systemic response (for example to nursing homes), but also proper conduct of the institution and individuals. Proper behavior of individuals has equally important implications in this regard.
Citizens' behavior rules cannot be ignored in this reality. There is no doubt that basic hygiene (hand washing, and avoiding touch) is essentially a whole world. This issue must be embedded in education and behavior, not only because of Corona, but because it is true. At the same time, it is not about getting somewhere when you are sick of something, no matter if Corona or not. It's part of what's called "good citizenship."
To cope properly and succeed not only in battle, but in battle, we are required to embed learning, awareness retention, and self-discipline. The Israeli public is quite diverse in these aspects, which is why we have to think about control mechanisms that will be alerted in the first phase, and in the second phase will be avoided.
I'm not one of the e-monitoring proponents. He created severe ethical restrictions on individual freedom. In my understanding, just as we have faced the entrance guards in the era of terror, we must deal with the age of biological threat. People who come to congregation areas must undergo screening and inspection. Not for themselves, but for everyone. This is a topic that should be translated into action as long as, as mentioned, no solution is found that neutralizes the virus.
An aspect that is required for regular maintenance is of course the protective equipment. A medical team that does not have the proper equipment is a form of loss of control and should not be repeated. And if only from a value point of view we cannot sacrifice essential assets in this kind of war - we do not have too many of these.
To sum it up, a chain of right decisions in time and place spared a catastrophe from the State of Israel. These processes must be learned and embedded in ongoing decisions and citizens' behavior, in this way we will win not only in battle but also in the entire campaign.
The writer is a former brigade commander in the IDF, currently investigating military and company relations