Crisis by the numbers

It is mind-numbing to try to keep up with information on the numbers of ventilators in Israel.

In “Coronavirus prep continues with 100 ventilators on their way to Israel” (April 10), the Health Ministry states that there are 3,051 ventilators in Israel, but only 1,869 are available for use. This begs the question of the status of the remaining 1,182.

How many of these are being used for people with other illnesses than the virus? Does the number in use include the 110 or so currently being used for virus patients? Are some of the 1,182 broken? If so, how fast are they being repaired and added to the number of those available? Are some reserved for the IDF? Are some privately held? etc.

Also, there are probably multiple types of ventilators, with suitability for different patients at different points of treatment. That information would be useful as well, and if applicable should be used to qualify the numbers requested above.

It is unhelpful to your readers to provide differently inconsistent numbers in different articles. And while we’re at it, can we also get a consistent list of all the efforts that are creating and importing additional ventilators with quantities and expected availability dates. Providing this information would be a service to your readers.

MATTHEW SCHEIN Jerusalem

Virtually the whole of the country has been experiencing financial problems as a result of the corona pandemic.

While it won’t make a huge difference to the budget deficit, I wonder why the Knesset members haven’t seen fit to join the rest of us by taking a voluntary pay cut.

MICHAEL BRODY Jerusalem