Corona Projector, Prof. Roni Gamzo, spoke this morning (Sunday) with Golan Yochpaz and Anat Davidov about the return to school of students in grades 1-4, and said: "This is a significant matter, we are returning the classrooms, in a much safer way than in September.".
He added: "We have examined all the options, the local authorities cannot lift capsules and split the after-school programs. We would like it to be different, but it is better than September 1, the reopening must be safer.".
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In your opinion, you wouldn't allow capsules in afternoon classes?
""If it was something that could be dealt with, then yes, it's another gathering, but you have to understand that in the end, there are after-school centers that are simply opened through private initiatives because the need to work and make a living is increasing.".
""I'm not saying that. The after-school programs are open and three are mixed in one after-school program. We've tested it and we still don't see any changes in morbidity. We continue to test. In some of our decisions, we ask for the safest things.".
He emphasized in an interview on 103FM: "The main emphasis is on reducing gatherings in a closed room, and we achieved this in grades 1-4.".
He said that mixing is what you want to avoid, but it's not the most important thing. "The most important thing is reducing the crowding and we achieved that - I have a little girl and she goes to kindergarten," the project manager added, "With Corona, there is no perfect situation, there is no complete perfection, there is risk reduction. What we are doing right now in this reopening is risk reduction.".
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Prof. Gamzo noted: "Today everyone understands and is more careful, and risk reduction also includes the teaching survey. In this survey, we reached half a percent positive, maybe a little more than that, even among kindergarten teachers and teachers.".
He called on the teaching and kindergarten staff to be tested for coronavirus - "You are going to stand in front of students, I want to make sure you don't have coronavirus. We are working on a periodic teaching survey, that's 200,000 teachers and that's not out of the blue. Even once every two weeks.".
Are you calling on the administration to send teachers for testing every two weeks?
""Those who are active - definitely yes, and don't worry, we have enough tests.".
There was a feeling that because of the rapid exit in Israel, we missed the second wave, and we see that even in Europe, where there was a moderate exit, there is a second lockdown. So how are we coping?
""Citizens in Europe stopped obeying the rules and did not wear masks. They decreased the level of adherence to wearing masks and obeying restrictions. They opened very little and the outbreak of the second wave happened more slowly. Make no mistake, this is a pandemic transmitted by young people. In Europe, they close the bars first and they are wrong in this regard.".
The managers are not careful either.
""I urge everyone not to underestimate it. Anyone who thinks it's okay for a child to take off their mask - then don't. It's contagious even at these ages.".
Arab society.
""Very concerned, they have 7% positive tests.".
What is the reason?
""The gatherings that are weddings and funerals, a number of people returning from abroad - mainly from Turkey, where they did not strictly adhere to the quarantines. In addition, visits to the Palestinian Authority. The virus is not only imported into Arab society, but is spread at weddings. We have had hundreds of weddings. A wedding is equal to infection. When you invite, write on the invitation that you are also inviting for Corona. In the end, they get closer, take off the masks and there is one who is a Corona patient. If we woke up yesterday to 600 patients a day - there are about 10 times that, a few thousand. We still see half a percent in the surveys.".
How come we haven't dropped below 600 yet?
""On a weekly moving average, he also sees the numbers of 890 and 900, so this morning we wake up with 200 after 7,000 tests, and those 200 indicate a decrease, but there is indeed a slowdown in the decrease. The infection rate suddenly starts to rise.".
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But what will happen in two or three days?
""The cabinet decision will come to the presentation. I mean, the cabinet decision is when there is an average of 500 openings, and today we are at 650. For my part, I will do everything to make it possible to open the stores as quickly as possible under the rules. Our mission and my job is to ensure that everyone understands what Corona is and how to exit the lockdown. You notice that even though there is pressure, we are adhering to them. The nine steps are not a sacred thing, I would be against it, but nine steps are also fine as long as they are followed.".
When do you finish?
""On November 13th, I will finish the overlap and then I will pass the baton in an orderly manner. We are working very hard.".
What is the most amazing thing you learned while dealing with the coronavirus? What didn't you know?
""I mainly saw the gap sometimes between the form of discourse, the discussion, and what is happening on the ground - the feeling of the people. I saw this gap and it bothered me, I tried to bridge it on tours. Many times I felt a big gap to what is happening on the ground. You constantly have to talk to the public and reach the cities, get the mayors involved.".
Was it a mistake not to let the mayors in?
""Unequivocally. From the moment I walked in, I understood it. This is managing a neighborhood, community epidemic. Those who look at the average don't understand, these are isolated outbreaks. We didn't just give them control over the tests.".
How much do you regret going into that sick bed?
""Not for a second, I am proud and call on all people not to be afraid.".
They did exercises for you and it's not pleasant.
""So what? I don't take these things into account. In the end, you have to serve the people and fight this pandemic. In the end, your personality can determine how things will go.".
What do you think about the politicians you sat next to?
""Some of them are very talented, do their job faithfully, but sometimes they think too much about the electorate, what they will say about them and what will happen in the next election, and I think they are wrong. They don't realize that the people are much smarter than that. Did it surprise me? No.".
Will there be a third closure?
""I believe not. I believe that the citizens of the State of Israel are more responsible, and if we continue to manage this according to the experience we have gained, we will know how to avoid a third lockdown.".
