Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya is preparing to move operations to protected underground facilities after Home Front Command announced the area is expected to be designated an orange zone, hospital director Masad Barhoum told staff Saturday night.
The designation, expected to take effect Sunday morning or afternoon, means the hospital will gradually shift activity to underground and protected areas as part of preparations for the security situation in northern Israel.
In a message to employees, Barhoum stressed that hospital management wasn’t surprised by the development and that an organized plan ready for implementation had been prepared in advance. As part of the preparations, the hospital will carry out a measured and responsible reduction in patient numbers, and starting Sunday morning will begin moving departments to underground facilities after receiving detailed instructions from management. The women’s operating rooms will continue to function normally on Sunday, but will be shut down starting Monday as part of the required adjustments.
Management also announced it will open a day care center for employees starting at 8:00 a.m. to help medical and nursing staff continue working during the emergency period. Staff were asked to prepare with reinforced teams to carry out the transfer and related operations, with formal and detailed instructions expected before the process begins following management discussions and supplementary meetings with nursing teams and administrators.