Israel acted fast, reducing the infection • Our medical system is ready to deal with an even larger volume of patients • This is the time to send help to our friends in America • Opinion

Israel has so far been operating in the Corona crisis and has used all possible tools to reduce the spread of the virus, including closing borders, isolating foreign arrivals, social remoteness, wide scope of testing and preparing the health system even for extended scenarios.

Photo: Reuters

The government acted quickly and promptly, in a way that slowed the rate of infection and the inclusion of the event in hospitals with reasonable medical results. We are not yet at the end of the event but in the midst of it, but alongside the exit strategy and the restoration of the economy, Israel now has another challenge - helping other countries where the crisis is causing the health systems to collapse, most notably New York, Israel's largest friend.

The medical forces in Israel are alert, professional and available to a much larger number of patients and patients than is likely to be seen in the immediate time. It is possible today to assist in the reinforcement of skilled medical staff to friendly countries where there is medical chaos - without compromising our competence and readiness. It's our duty. The United States, and especially New York, is Israel's most courageous friend, the rock of our support and defense that has always come to our aid.

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Today, New York is in a serious crisis, its health system is unable to cope with the current amounts of patients and those that will be added in the coming days, threatening to bring the system there for the crisis. The crisis stems from both inadequate preparation and the structure of medical services, and the main shortcoming today is medical personnel. At this point, Israel today has the ability and even moral obligation to help.

We have done this in the past when disasters have befallen distant states and we have always been the first to arrive and mobilize for the supreme mission of saving lives. Joining New York City is our human and national duty, but it is also a great privilege of the health care system, which has long been connected to colleagues working in the New York medical system. The decision to do so is not straightforward, it has a certain element of gambling about the state of Israel's medical resilience. At the same time, I believe that at this time, measured help will be a right and safe decision and will express our commitment to our great friend.

The writer is the director of the Ichilov Medical Center, and formerly the director general of the Ministry of Health and chair of the Pharmaceutical Basket Committee