Outgoing virus czar says politics outweighed medical needs

On his final day on the job as coronavirus czar, Ronni Gamzu criticizes the country’s political leadership throughout the pandemic.

“We can’t have medical needs being weakened by politicking. We need a leadership that doesn’t tell the people why they are [acting] wrong — but speaks to them eye to eye,” Gamzu says at the handover ceremony to his successor.

“These were a hundred difficult days that demanded all the mental strength I had. I received support from Israeli society, including Arab society and parts of the ultra-Orthodox society.

“We have great medical teams, the best professional infrastructure in the Western world. We have the best testing and contact tracing system to cut the chains of infection. Despite the violations here and there, we have a disciplined and great people,” Gamzu says.

Gamzu is returning as planned to his job as director of Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital. He has been replaced by Nachman Ash, former chief medical officer of the Israel Defense Forces.