"Thousands of Israelis Breach Isolation" Israel today

Meet the brothers who are leading the fight in Corona on behalf of the IDF • Home Front Command Brigadier General Brigadier General Itzik Bar and his brother Col. Nir, commander of the hotel system

• Brigadier General Itzik Bar (right) with his brother Col. Nir.

  everything stays in the family

  Photo: 

  IDF spokesperson

In recent weeks, the Home Front Command has been working hard.

The increase in infection, the preparations for the opening of the epidemiological testing system and, of course, the upcoming holidays, have created quite a bit of work for the various parties, from the ordinary soldier to the most senior officers.

Two of those senior officers who actually lead the fight in Corona in some of the most significant ways are brothers.

The head of the Home Front Command, Brigadier General Itzik Bar and Lt. Col. (Res.) Nir Bar, who commands the hotel system, are leading the effort to eradicate the disease. "We grew up together in the Paratroopers Brigade.

"There was a stage when he was a battalion commander and I was his deputy. It's not an easy period at all," laughs Nir.

"Very few people know we are brothers, and it takes time to understand each other. We don't let it get in the way, quite the opposite. We know how to complement each other, because we grew up together in a coop. We know how to do special things together."

These days, the Home Front Command is leading a huge effort to train researchers on the way to establishing an epidemiological testing system, in order to try to interrupt the chain of infection.

"The original date for the launch of the array is November 1, but by order of the Prime Minister, we are expected to open it by about two weeks," Brigadier General Bar announces.

However, he emphasizes that as long as the morbidity situation is high, it will not be possible to carry out the tests effectively, and therefore in his eyes closure is most necessary.

"We will employ about 2,600 soldiers to serve as investigators, with the aim of reaching a situation where an epidemiological investigation will end 45 hours after the isolation, compared to 100 hours today," explains Brigadier General Bar, "but this is impossible if we do not flatten the curve and reach a range For 500 patients a day.

Then we can act effectively to interrupt the chain of infection.

It is important to say: the most important thing is the discipline of the citizens - and not just a closure. "

The Home Front Command Chief of Staff adds that "today we have about 16,000 people we know who need isolation and do not carry it out in practice.

A closure is a violent action that freezes a situation, but if there is no civil response it does not matter how many closures are made.

We are at a bad level in terms of refusing isolation.

The enforcement effort is not effective enough, and we are taking action to improve the arrays.

In the end, a citizen must understand that his discipline is part of success.

It does not matter how many police officers we appoint if people are not responsible for their fate. "

Blowing a shofar in the corridors

At the same time, the isolation and recovery unit led by Colonel Nir Bar has completed the preparations for the Tishrei holidays, with all that that implies. The Home Front Command currently operates 21 hotels designed for a wide range of populations, and each population needs a different solution. "Colonel Nir explains," and I estimate that by the eve of the holiday we will be about 75 percent occupied. " 

He notes that the assessments two months ago were of an increase in morbidity after the start of the school year - so the array was prepared in advance for the challenge.

"We knew there would be some decline between August and September and on September 1 it would start to rise. We open and close hotels as needed, and are always ready to open more hotels if needed. Our goal is to cut the contagion chain and also help people get through this period."

In the run-up to the holidays, Home Front Command officers in charge of the hotels went down to the details and examined how many arrangements and shofars were needed for the isolated and the sick, which testimonies needed prayers and more.

"In isolation hotels, for example, we will perform shofar blasts in the corridors to allow traditionalists to observe the mitzvah."

Finally, the commander of the isolation and recovery unit concludes: "We are a few days before Rosh Hashanah, and we wish everyone a happy new year. This year, I wish one thing - to give us all what was before, to return to routine and the little things everyone understands today are important."