Thus far, Israel has taken the right action in the coronavirus crisis and employed every possible means to reduce the spread of the virus, including closing its borders, sending people arriving from abroad into self-isolation, instituting social distancing, extensive testing, and preparing the healthcare system to deal with scenarios on a massive scale.
The government acted correctly and quickly, thereby slowing the rate of infection and containing the event in hospitals, with reasonable medical results. We are still in the middle of the event, not past it, but along with exit strategies and rebuilding its economy, Israel has another challenge -- to help other countries where the crisis has caused healthcare systems to crash. First and foremost, it must help its biggest friend -- New York.
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Israel's medical forces are professional and prepared to deal with a much larger number of patients that we will certainly be seeing in the immediate future. Today, we can provide help by sending trained medical teams to friendly nations where medical chaos reigns, without hurting our own readiness. It is our obligation to do so. The US, New York in particular, is a brave friend to Israel, a rock of defense and support which has always rushed to our aid.
The city of New York is in crisis. Its healthcare services cannot handle the number of current and future corona patients, which could send the system into a crisis resulting from insufficient preparation and the structure of healthcare services there, and especially the shortage of medical workers -- something with which Israel has the capability and moral obligation to help.
We've done it in the past when natural disasters struck distant countries. We were always the first to arrive and enlist in the most important mission of saving lives. We have a humane and national obligation to enlist on behalf of New York, but it is also a huge privilege for our healthcare system, which for years has been connected to colleagues in New York. It won't be easy to make the decision, as it entails a certain gamble on Israel's own medical strength. However, I think that at this time, sending a moderate amount of help would be a safe decision that would express in deeds our commitment to our great friend.
Professor Ronni Gamzu is the CEO of Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv and formerly served as the director of Israel's Health Ministry
