Small (only 25 thousand inhabitants) the town of mA’alot Tarshiha is located in the North of Israel, in Western Galilee, near the Lebanese border. It was formed with the merger of the Arab village of Tarshiha and the Jewish settlement of mA’alot. It is called Galilean Switzerland: rolling hills, clean mountain air. 21% of the population are Arabs who profess Christianity or Islam. Jews – about 70%. From December 2018 the mayor of the city is our former compatriot, the native of Azerbaijan Arkady orange. We asked him to share his experience in combating the epidemic COVID-19.
– Mr. mayor, what steps have been taken Maalot in connection with the beginning of the epidemic of coronavirus?
– All this hullabaloo with the “crown” began more than a month ago. The first thing we, of course, established the Headquarters for emergency situation. Because like it or not, but this is the most that neither is a “state of emergency”. This calendar can even be called martial law. This staff included the entire leadership of the city mayor, his deputies, the Director General of the municipality and all the heads of departments, including the Department head of urban security, which is directly connected with the IDF and home front command’s Northern district. The headquarters includes representatives of the police and local municipal authorities who work with the police. Municipality is an organization that works in collaboration with the ministries. We were just following orders from the Israeli Ministry of health, Ministry of internal Affairs, the Ministry of social welfare, Finance and so on. These instructions are constantly changing.
How long have you had patients, how many of those who are quarantined?
– First we had about 70 people, who were quarantined at home. Then the number had reached 118. Patients first was not, then became two, three, at some point reached 12 people. Fortunately, no one was killed.
– today what is the situation?
– At the moment we have in 6 patients, none serious. 7 people are in quarantine.
– This means that the epidemic is on the decline?
– In our city, thank God, Yes.
What has taken the city authorities to do that?
the First step was to identify all residents over 65 years of age. Because the virus strikes people of this age bracket. It was necessary to create conditions so that they could sit at home, less to go out. When we started to receive assistance from the Ministry of social security, then immediately organized the distribution of hot meals to all who fit the criteria of the Ministry. Also those who are more than 65, were handing out products to make them less out on the street. To do this, we collected approximatelyabout 200 volunteers. In addition to those over 65 years, the Ministry of social welfare and continues to support the poor, the disabled, etc.
two or three Weeks ago we contacted all the big grocery stores, supermarkets, which are in the city. And we agreed that for people over 65 years has dedicated hours when in the store shopping can only log them. People of other ages in these watches in the shop is not allowed. Upon entering the store, the owner is obliged to provide them gloves, sanitizer hand alcohol-based.
what time these people can shop at?
– Each store decides for himself. Somewhere in the time from 6.30 to 8, somewhere from 8 to 10. We asked that time, it was different: someone is more convenient to go in the morning, someone in the afternoon or evening.
– whether the company monitors the adherence to quarantine those who were supposed to be in it?
– Yes. Several times a day was carried out the mandatory checks on those who is quarantined at home. Came to them, called and asked me to step out on the balcony to think. Also identified people who suffer.
– Where the residents of MA’alot could get an infection?
– the Ministry of health does not give us a report on where and how they contracted it, it tells us only about the number of patients. But did not report who these patients are, and I, as mayor, do not even have the right to know. The confidentiality of cases is strict, we do not report where they live. Although many residents are literally begging us to disclose this information because they want to know where it is not necessary to go so as not to intersect with the infected partner.
How in this case they are checked?
the Police, of course, knows all: who’s sick, who’s quarantined. And she’s checking them. But all these people were given a subscription about nondisclosure of data. That is, the Ministry of health directly gives police data, and it works completely independent from us. Moreover, the police receive this information several times a day with updates.
– And how are you getting on with personal protective equipment and hygiene?
– we Have strong propaganda that to date, the only cure for this pandemic is to stay home, observe personal hygiene, to frequently wash hands, use masks, disposable gloves. Therefore, the Municipality immediately bought masks, disposable gloves, alcohol disinfectants in huge quantities. In addition, we also procured a means of disinfection of streets and houses. As soon as the rains ended, we were in town every 2 hours produced disinfection on all the important areas, in places of a congestion of the population. This is a Church, synagogue, mosque, bus stop. Conducted disinfection near the entrances of schools and kindergartens, although they ��akriti. Also carried out continuous disinfection of trash cans around. Conducted disinfection of streets on which, as we have supposed, could live patients. Now we produce disinfection 2-3 times a day.
– And people in General can get out of the house? We have those who are more than 65, it is forbidden to go out at all.
– During the holidays was closed everything, leaving the house was forbidden and those who are under 65. Now old people can go out to buy food, medicine, walk near the house. But many are afraid to come out. At some point, we introduced the “quarantine time” when on the street you can’t move more than 100 meters from the house. And forbidden to enter other apartments. For example, within 100 meters from the house you want to go to friends to drink tea – it was forbidden. But just to walk.
– And the entrance to the city free?
– Already a week and a half acting mode, the name of which I can’t exactly translate from Hebrew, literally “the city, but keep breathing.” “Breathing closing of the city”. What does it mean? People can go to work and back, but nobody can come to our city without special permission. If someone tries, then he gets a fine and sent back. So at the moment the city is closed completely. To leave and to come only by special permission. A tough decision was taken because Israel has several cities, where a very large number of cases. The residents of these cities are trying to go to the periphery, to a safer place. and they can be carriers of the coronavirus.
– the City where many cases are those of the city inhabited by Orthodox Jews?
mostly, Yes. They behaved not quite right in terms of compliance with quarantine measures did not take seriously the threat of infection, and it so happens that there is more positive.
– those who goes to work, there is a special pass?
– Yes. But today in the municipality, for example, only 30% of the total number of employees. 70% of the municipal workers – paid holidays. They have spent those holidays that they have accumulated over the past years. Some businesses send their employees on vacation at his own expense. Thus they are not fired, and keep a place for them, so they can come back when it’s all over. A third option is when people just dismiss and they go behind the unemployment benefit.
– Those who goes on vacation at their own expense, they generally do not get any money?
– They have the right also to go for unemployment benefits. But they retain place.
what are the penalties for attempting to enter the city or other violations of the regime?
– Yes, the fines are large. There are penalties ��about 500 shekels (about $ 150) and there are penalties for 5,000 shekels (fifteen hundred dollars). The amount of the fine depends on how severe.
the Products delivered to those who are over 65, through the mayor’s office?
– It’s not quite at the expense of the municipality. Helps us and the home front command and the Ministry of social welfare. The municipality is not the kind of organization that can spend money just like that. We do not make money. The taxes we collect go to those or other projects in the city. We get money, “painted project”, as they say in Hebrew. I can’t get the money, for example, on asphalt roads, and to spend on roof repair in kindergarten. If I got the money for the roof, I have them on the roof and have to spend, and to obtain money have to show the estimate. The municipality is not possible without the aid of a Ministry to make something of themselves.
Masks, gloves, disinfectant you can buy freely?
In principle, Yes. Just enough, everything is there. It happens that in some shop suddenly no masks, but stores are trying to ensure the continued availability of these funds, buy them constantly. There was some moment of excitement, when all of a sudden ended. Now normally, the state has established for all these funds limit price. So nobody tried to cash in on it. There have been attempts to speculate, but fast enough at the state level stopped.
– Now in Israel and in Jewish communities around the world celebrate the holiday of Passover. As it is celebrated in a pandemic?
– celebrating home. In the synagogue no one is going. As in churches, and in mosques. All sit at home and pray at home.
– do you personally which regulations to comply with the quarantine?
– everything. Constantly wash my hands, go masked. Even if I’m driving in the car alone, still wearing the mask. No one said here comes the mayor without a mask. I don’t use gloves, I in their effectiveness don’t believe. If you’re in the gauntlet until something touched her on the idea should be immediately removed and discarded. It’s easier for me to carry hand sanitizer: touched something – and immediately rubbed his hands.
But operate in the same mode?
– We are even more work. Because of the municipal workers less. And we must do the same work.
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