IDF to mobilize 2,000 reservists in the fight against coronavirus

While the IDF will not be given full responsibility for handling the crisis, Bennett said Sunday that the defense establishment “is taking on more and more tasks day by day.”

By ANNA AHRONHEIM
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett meets with IDF officials on January 28, 2020 (photo credit: DEFENSE MINISTRY)
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett meets with IDF officials on January 28, 2020
(photo credit: DEFENSE MINISTRY)
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett signed an order on Sunday authorizing the IDF to mobilize 2,000 reserve personnel for the Home Front Command as part of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Over the weekend, the IDF’s General Staff held intensive discussions regarding preserving military capabilities as well as the military’s role during the crisis, such as providing help to the health system and police as they enforce the regulations set by the prime minister and Health Ministry.
While the IDF will not be responsible for handling the crisis, Bennett said Sunday that the defense establishment “is taking on more and more tasks day by day” and that it will continue to assist as needed.
“I have instructed Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi that the IDF has two main tasks: protecting the State of Israel from its enemies and helping protect Israeli civilians from the coronavirus,” he said.
On Friday, Bennett held a series of meetings to discuss preparations for a possible state of emergency and ordered the defense establishment to immediately set up group recovery facilities for individuals diagnosed with the virus.
“Because we don’t know if we are growing at an exponential pace or if it will be a small growth in numbers, the security establishment is taking on more and more missions every day. Our main task right now is to locate and open four facilities - one in the Galilee, one in Tel Aviv, one in Jerusalem and one in the Negev,” he said, adding that each facility will hold 500 patients.
The IDF has called up hundreds of reservists to help civilian agencies, including Magen David Adom. All combat soldiers have been ordered to remain at their base for a prolonged period of time.
On Sunday, the military announced that the Home Front Command and Magen David Adom created a joint facility with a coronavirus-specific call center. Individuals who call the regular 101 emergency number will be diverted to the call center if they are concerned they are infected with the virus. The IDF said 100 reservists were deployed to man the call center, which will be staffed around the clock with 10 people.
“The call center is meant for people in quarantine at home who develop symptoms, like a fever above 38°, a cough or difficulty breathing,” the IDF said.
On Tuesday, the Defense Ministry announced that it had started to purchase NIS 50 million worth of medical equipment, including masks, gloves, hazmat suits, defibrillators, medical monitors, and large quantities of disinfectant for the IDF to help deal with the crisis.
On Saturday, Bennett instructed the defense establishment evening to prepare for a state of emergency. “Israel's emergency inventory is full and is equipped to handle a variety of scenarios," he said.