Brigadier General Gen. Ze'ev Tsuk-Ram, former head of the National Emergency Authority, addressed the Corona's expansion and praised the government's decisions • "Unpleasant for the population, but necessary"

• Disinfection team prepares for Corona virus // Photo: AFP

Former National Emergency Authority (Brigadier General) Gen. (res.) Ze'ev Tsuk-Ram warns in conversation with "Israel Today" that while Israel's strong steps to deal with the Corona virus were in place, the state is not ready enough To take action in a real epidemic, and that further steps must be taken immediately.

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"The Ministry of Health is doing a good job. It's not pleasant for the population, but it is necessary," he says of the conduct of the relevant bodies. "Israel is working reasonably well. It was necessary to aggressively start the treatment of the virus and perhaps later to facilitate if there is room. The decisions of the prime minister and the Ministry of Health are correct."

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However, he clarifies, there is room for further action to prevent the spread of the virus. "There is a need to respond to a situation where many more patients will be out of hospitals. "To create places where we can put patients, so that they will be isolated from hospitals and the community as well. That had to be done yesterday morning."

"The Director General of the Ministry of Health today has the ability to come to a hotel and tell the owner that even this way there are no tourists and close the place, to make it a complex for receiving patients. You have to start organizing these things, assuming we have increased the number of patients. At the same time, to increase the possibility of testing suspects for infection to rule out or confirm their infection, to know to close down areas and places where the virus exists. "

Another issue, he says, concerns the economy. "The economy is affected by health and vice versa, and the results will not be seen tomorrow, but also for months to come. We need to set up a dedicated professional team and look at the situation for at least six months. There is no doubt that an economic shortage will be created here, the situation will not be better."

Tsuk-Ram, who resigned last November, is still advising various senior officials in the system. Among other things, he examined the readiness of cities for the outbreak of the epidemic, which he says has a lot of room for improvement. "There is a need to guide the heads of authorities, explain to them what will happen to them at home when suddenly there will be loads of patients staying in the community, to give the mayors tools to deal with the plague, as they will have to make decisions. I have checked it in some places, and the mayors do not know what they are doing. Someone has to explain to them how to prepare. "

The police, too, adds Cliff-Ram, must be properly trained to cope during a crisis. "The cops need to be taught how to perform a civilian blockade of a neighborhood or area where many patients are identified. It's not a simple thing, and the cops need to know how to work. If they don't practice, they won't know, and it should start tomorrow morning."

Contrary to other voices, the former chief of staff says there is nowhere to put the army as a governing body and vice versa, beyond the use of the Home Front Command. "The fighting army should be isolated from the whole thing. That they will not do anything but guard themselves. They must be kept safe. The Home Front Command, on the other hand, should be used to assist the Ministry of Health, MDA centers and other places.

Tsuk-Ram does not want to estimate how long the emergency will last, but he says we should expect it to last for at least six months, with the potential for another outbreak later. "In my view, scenarios should be determined in the coming six months - how many casualties will be, what the economy will mean, what to support and how to support.

The former senior, who also served as deputy chief of staff for national security, refuses to explain in detail why he left Rahal, but hints that conduct on the spot could also hamper efforts to arrest the Corona and deal with it. "I left Rahal because there were those who tried to do things "They shouldn't be done. It has some effect or other, but it's hard for me to put my finger where exactly." However, he added: "I have no desire to hurt anyone, and it could very well be that they have corrected what is needed."