Israel could avoid a second wave of coronavirus without further lockdowns if citizens adhere to health guidelines, outgoing Health Ministry Director General Moshe Bar-Siman-Tov said on Sunday. He said a lockdown might not be effective for the second time even if applied due to a "different" nature of the second wave.
Bar-Siman-Tov resigned from his post last months after mounting public pressure due to his recommendations for very strict policies meant to combat COVID-19 and accusations of "fear-mongering".
"We're definitely at risk of a renewed outbreak, and I think we shouldn't tackle the new wave with lockdowns, it's going to be different from the previous wave and we should act accordingly," Bar-Siman-Tov told Ynet in an interview on his last day as the Health Ministry's director general.
"The outbreak could be prevented if the public follows the rules, and I have a feeling that we've been seeing a blessed change in this matter in recent days. We can deal with this without the steps we had to take last time, I trust the Israeli public to succeed to take the required steps, they are not that complicated. I understand the sense of burnout in dealing with the disease, but the virus is not over, so we must persevere."
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Outgoing Health Ministry Director General Moshe Bar Siman Tov (top), billionaire Teddy Sagi (left), Health Ministry Deputy Director General Prof. Itamar Grotto
The outgoing director general also refrained from voicing an opinion on his deputy, Prof. Itamar Grotto, after the latter granted Israeli-Cypriot billionaire, Teddy Sagi, an exemption from having to enter quarantine upon his arrival to Israel in order to attend a party.
"Prof. Grotto's right to due process should not be trampled upon nor should we downplay his contribution to the health system," said Bar Siman Tov.
"However, we need to maintain the public's trust in our decision-making and that everyone is treated equally and with the same tools... There are questions that need to be answered."