The head of the Geriatrics Department of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Irit Laxer, made the gloomy outlook at a court hearing dealing with a request for a geriatric institution to benefit Corona patients
Preparing at Shiba Hospital // Photo: Yossi Zeliger
"It is expected that in a few days there will be hundreds of breaths in the country in about two weeks. There is no understanding here of what an emergency is going to be in the country," said Dr. Irit Laxer, the head of the geriatric department at the Ministry of Health in response to a petition by families. Nursing patients, who have not been evacuated from the geriatric hospital, rectangle in Rishon Lezion in favor of turning the place into a hospital in Corona.
The court hearing the petition has decided that the matter will be referred to the Central District Administrative Court, Lod, and the hearing on the family petition will be heard there this Sunday.
The municipality of Rishon Lezion petitioned against the evacuation of the site earlier this month and the court issued a temporary restraining order. Earlier this week, the Ministry of Health replied to the petition and knew it had decided to evacuate the place to house hundreds of patients in Corona when required. He announced that dozens of seniors would be transferred to nursing homes or other centers.
Photo: GPO
Thirty-five families of elderly patients petitioned in Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court. They sought to delay the eviction process for the elderly until the district hearing. The petitioners claim that "the transfer of 71 elderly persons may lead to death, among other things, due to their displacement from the environment in which they are located." However, family representatives have agreed that the elderly will give up and only some wings will become isolation wards. "The pavilions are far and separate so we have no roofing," they said.
The Ministry of Health, on the other hand, sought to allow immediate evacuation. The Ministry of Health explained in the hearing that the immediate need stems from the state of the country and that 3,500 beds must be prepared nationwide and that there are alternative places for the elderly.