"Victory Departments" is how the special COVID19 intensive care units are called in Nazereth Hospital. Two are up and running, and there are in the midst of preparations for a third. As of now, the doctor said, there are three admissions, as less serious cases are sent home, or to hotels to recover. There are an impressive number of health care providers from the Israeli Arab population, including doctors and nurses, who volunteered to engage in this pandemic crisis, Hakim added. 

Metabolic age because of chronic diseases and smoking in the Arab population is higher and moves 45-65 year-olds into the high-risk group. However, the elderly stay at home in the community, not like in Italy where many were in nursing homes, he explained.

Hakim praised the Ministry of Health for providing what was needed and brought by the IDF. Nazareth Hospital has 120 beds, and as in many other medical institutions, people are afraid and therefore less likely to come to the hospital for treatment than in the past which can lead to problems and in some cases has resulted in death.

The month of the Muslim holiday period of Ramadan begins on April 23, 2020. It is a time of large family gatherings involving travel and break-fasts iftar feasts in the evening. While numbers in the Arab population are low now, how people will act during Ramadan is a concern for government officials as well as medical staff.

On April 21, 2020, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted a discussion on preparations for the month of Ramadan with the mayors of Deir al-Assad, Nazareth, Umm al-Fahm, Taybe and Rahat.

Among the topics discussed was the need for a joint effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the Arab sector during Ramadan. The mayors presented the actions that have been taken by religious and local leaders to reduce the danger of infection, including the cancellation of prayers in mosques and calls to hold iftar meals only with the nuclear family members.

The Arab mayors called on the Prime Minister to impose movement restrictions from 6:00 pm until 3:00 am in order to reduce the danger of gatherings that could lead to large-scale infection. They also requested support for residents and assistance with critical needs during Ramadan.

Interior Minister Arye Deri, Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, the head of the Prime Minister's staff Asher Hayon, NSC head Meir Ben-Shabbat, Prime Minister's Office Director-General Ronen Peretz, Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar Siman Tov, as well as senior Israel Police and NSC officials all attended the Prime Minister's chaired meeting.

In Jerusalem, the largest Israeli city and the poorest, the added stress of small businesses being closed, and those on the poverty line falling below it, has increased the numbers of those in need of help. Needs of the poor population required a joint effort in food distribution from the Municipality aided by the Jerusalem Foundation and hundreds of volunteers.  Shai Doron, President of the Jerusalem Foundation, said that when he became president he never imagined he would be called upon to deliver food on such a scale. His hope is when the crisis is over the world will acknowledge how the Jerusalem Foundation responded to the needs of the Jerusalem Mayor's Office. 

Director of Projects Department Ruth Diskin said all Jerusalem Foundation cultural and arts projects had be cut or postponed until at least October. Mira Mahfouz, Director of its east Jerusalem department, said efforts to get their rights translated into Arabic and food for Ramadan are priorities during this coronavirus period. They are working with the Municipality and Welfare Department to identify and assist those in need and provide help through local community centers. 

The experts agreed success in preventing a large-scale infection and provide stability to Arab society during Ramadan can only be achieved through cooperation and working together.