Fighting COVID-19: War on The Homefront

In terms of size, Israel is approximately the size of the state of New Jersey. Yet this relatively small country holds great demographic and geographic diversity. Therefore, every region, town, and municipality faces very different battles in the fight against COVID-19. As the country prepares for a nationwide lockdown from September 18, 2020 to October 10, 2020, the Israel Defense Forces is assisting in a multitude of ways.

The IDF Home Front Command, under the command of Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, has aided civilians for months through a nationwide network of coronavirus treatment centers (for further information, click here), however, a recent rise in COVID-19 cases, especially in specific areas referred to as “red zones”, has led the HFC to take on a more intensive role in the national efforts against the virus.

A mobile testing center administered by the IDF together with MDA.

These efforts include assisting isolated elderly populations (more info here), opening additional drive-in testing centers, and increasing the number of at-home testing kits. The HFC is also using their transportation and planning networks to accelerate the pace at which tests are transported to laboratories, and expanding efforts to transport patients to quarantine and recovery facilities. 

In addition to these efforts, over 2,000 soldiers have been enlisted to take part in one of the Home Front Command's most crucial tasks—to break the chain of COVID-19 infections through the operation of an Epidemiological Investigations Task Force called "Alon". 

The Epidemiological Investigations Task Force has a digital system that was developed by Unit 8200 and the Computer Service and Cyber Defense Directorate. This system updates civilians in real time about the condition of their health and the status of their tests, while also providing them with precise instructions on how to keep themselves and others safe. 

"Like a delivery from Amazon, each citizen will be updated at every stage, from when they are tested to the date that they finish isolation, directly via their cell phone," says Major General Gordin, the Commander of the Home Front Command.

Soldiers distribute informational leaflets about health and safety.

The Israel Defense Forces is also closely collaborating with local authorities all over Israel to enforce quarantine measures. Already, approximately 500 soldiers have been mobilized to assist the Israeli Police in enforcing social distancing. Working locally, soldiers have distributed information leaflets about COVID-19, and held on-site training for employees of multiple businesses. 

On September 6, 2020, Maj. Gen. Gordin visited Kafr Qasim, an Arab-Israeli municipality. Together with the Mayor of Kafr Qasim and municipality representatives, Maj. Gen. Gordin conducted a situational assessment to prepare for the possibility of enacting measures to reduce the exposure rate, and developed a plan to help the municipality move from a high-risk area, or a ‘red’ zone, to a lower risk ‘green zone’. Since then, the municipality has reduced the morbidity rate of civilians with COVID-19 by 50%. 

Adel Badir, The Mayor of Kfar Qasim, remarked:

“Together with the Home Front Command, we made a plan, and I think it will help Kfar Qasim to reach the status of a 'green' city. We’re going in a good direction, and I believe we’ll become a ‘green’ city, but our challenge will be to remain a ‘green’ city.”

IDF soldiers will continue to aid civilians until the threat of COVID-19 has been lowered, as they have since the outbreak began. The IDF has always been responsible for protecting the state of Israel, and a pandemic is no exception.