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Israel signs deal with Chinese firm to enable 10,000 virus tests a day
New equipment, worth NIS 90 million, to be installed in labs in next several weeks; Health Ministry vows to step up testing in hard-hit nursing homes
By TOI STAFFToday, 1:13 am
An ultra-orthodox youth is tested for coronavirus in Bnei Brak, March 31, 2020. (Ariel Schalit/ AP)
Israel signed a NIS 90 million ($25 million) deal with Chinese firm BGI to buy equipment that will allow Israel to conduct at least 10,000 coronavirus tests a day, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.
The new equipment will be installed in six different labs over the next few weeks, and will carry out testing alongside Israel’s current testing facilities.
BGI is a global genomics company based in Shenzhen, China, with clients in over 66 countries, according to the firm’s website.
The new tests are PCR tests — polymerase chain reaction tests — which directly detect viral nucleic acids. Some tests detect the body’s antibodies to the virus.
BGI’s tests have been used widely in China, and are being distributed to over 50 other countries and regions, the firm said. Results from the tests are available three hours after they are administered.
The testing kits come with a supply of reagents — substances used for chemical analyses that are required for tests — which Israeli laboratories have run short off in recent days, limiting the number of tests Israel can carry out.
Magen David Adom medical team members, wearing protective gear, handle a coronavirus test sample at a drive-through site in Tel Aviv, March 22, 2020. (Flash90)
On Tuesday, the number of tests conducted was under 2,000, according to Channel 12, falling far short of official goals. The Health Ministry did not release official testing numbers.
Last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered defense officials to acquire enough kits to perform 30,000 tests a day. Health Ministry officials previously sought to bring Israel up to 10,000 tests a day.
The Health Ministry on Friday reportedly decided to tighten its criteria for coronavirus tests amid the shortage, and testing sites shortened their hours in recent days.
Earlier Tuesday, the Health Ministry said it decided to expand testing in nursing homes for the elderly. In any such facility with a confirmed coronavirus carrier, all residents and employees will now be tested, the ministry said in a statement.
Homes for the elderly have been a hotspot for the virus in Israel and other countries.
On Friday, a senior official in the Health Ministry admitted to Channel 13 that his office was not equipped to deal with the growing number of outbreaks in nursing homes.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister’s Office said that the Defense Ministry and Home Front Command would assist the Health Ministry in handling the crisis at nursing homes.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-signs-deal-with-chinese-firm-to-enable-10000-virus-tests-a-day/
New equipment, worth NIS 90 million, to be installed in labs in next several weeks; Health Ministry vows to step up testing in hard-hit nursing homes
By TOI STAFFToday, 1:13 am
An ultra-orthodox youth is tested for coronavirus in Bnei Brak, March 31, 2020. (Ariel Schalit/ AP)
Israel signed a NIS 90 million ($25 million) deal with Chinese firm BGI to buy equipment that will allow Israel to conduct at least 10,000 coronavirus tests a day, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.
The new equipment will be installed in six different labs over the next few weeks, and will carry out testing alongside Israel’s current testing facilities.
BGI is a global genomics company based in Shenzhen, China, with clients in over 66 countries, according to the firm’s website.
The new tests are PCR tests — polymerase chain reaction tests — which directly detect viral nucleic acids. Some tests detect the body’s antibodies to the virus.
BGI’s tests have been used widely in China, and are being distributed to over 50 other countries and regions, the firm said. Results from the tests are available three hours after they are administered.
The testing kits come with a supply of reagents — substances used for chemical analyses that are required for tests — which Israeli laboratories have run short off in recent days, limiting the number of tests Israel can carry out.
Magen David Adom medical team members, wearing protective gear, handle a coronavirus test sample at a drive-through site in Tel Aviv, March 22, 2020. (Flash90)
On Tuesday, the number of tests conducted was under 2,000, according to Channel 12, falling far short of official goals. The Health Ministry did not release official testing numbers.
Last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered defense officials to acquire enough kits to perform 30,000 tests a day. Health Ministry officials previously sought to bring Israel up to 10,000 tests a day.
The Health Ministry on Friday reportedly decided to tighten its criteria for coronavirus tests amid the shortage, and testing sites shortened their hours in recent days.
Earlier Tuesday, the Health Ministry said it decided to expand testing in nursing homes for the elderly. In any such facility with a confirmed coronavirus carrier, all residents and employees will now be tested, the ministry said in a statement.
Homes for the elderly have been a hotspot for the virus in Israel and other countries.
On Friday, a senior official in the Health Ministry admitted to Channel 13 that his office was not equipped to deal with the growing number of outbreaks in nursing homes.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister’s Office said that the Defense Ministry and Home Front Command would assist the Health Ministry in handling the crisis at nursing homes.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-signs-deal-with-chinese-firm-to-enable-10000-virus-tests-a-day/
