Amid the consistently low coronavirus figures in Israel in recent weeks, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi on Tuesday gave the go-ahead to shut down the army's "Alon" epidemiological investigations task force in early August, assuming the current morbidity rate remains steady.
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"The inclusion of the IDF and Home Front Command [in the fight against the pandemic] turned the tide against the coronavirus," Gantz said.
The plan to gradually transfer the duties the IDF had assumed back to the Health Ministry was submitted by Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Home Front commander Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin.
A decision was also made to establish a reservist unit to be stationed at Home Front Command headquarters near the city of Ramla, where the task force was stationed, which would be able to provide an emergency response for the country in another pandemic. This unit, according to the plan, would be up and running within a matter of days if another coronavirus outbreak were to occur.
Another situational assessment will be conducted in late June, after which a final decision will be made on the matter.
Over the past year, the Home Front Command played a key role in fighting the pandemic, working in conjunction with the civilian sector to help stop the spread of the virus. As part of this effort, the IDF established the "Alon" epidemiological investigations task force, which conducted epidemiological tracing, set up a lab that increased the number of daily corona tests, opened and operated specially converted corona hotels and, according to the army's estimations, prevented some 25% of the morbidity rate while it was operational.
"The defense establishment saved the lives of thousands of people over the past year in the fight against the coronavirus, and exhausted all of its capabilities alongside the Health Ministry and other ministries," Gantz said. "The knowledge that was accumulated will serve the State of Israel and the world decades into the future in coping with pandemics and emergency situations on the home front. I salute the IDF and Home Front Command reservists, soldiers and officers, along with the defense establishment employees who took part in the intensive effort."
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