Health Minister Yuli Edelstein (Likud) on Wednesday morning responded to Public Health Services Head Professor Siegal Sadetzki's announcement of resignation.
In an interview with Kan Bet, Edelstein said, "I as Health Minister am the one making the decisions. The decision to reopen the economy was a correct decision at the moment we made it. When circumstances changed, then maybe the decisions should also have changed. It's just like in a battlefield. We can't make decisions now for September 15."
"I understand how Professer Sadetzki feels, but we have not lost our sense of direction and our conscience is still working. The common citizen shouldn't have to think about these things. The 'emergency period' regulations were in effect for three months, and now that time is up. There's a lot of confusion among the public, which hears that the government decides something."
Edelstein also admitted that he has not spoken to Sadetzki since she announced her decision.
When asked if he believes she should return to her position, he said, "I don't know what to answer. I'll need to speak with her and understand exactly what her complaints are. We are in a war-like situation and if someone cannot continue, the goal is not to go backwards but to find him a replacement. We are examining the options."
"The virus is acting the same way in other countries," he added. "There is a second wave in countries who reopened together with us. We cannot delay making decisions. We cannot say that we won. It's not happening anywhere in the world. We need to act with caution."
"No country has been victorious over coronavirus. The decisions made are appropriate for what is happening at that time, and if we don't keep to the guidelines, we will end up with a closed economy."