The Mossad delivered more coronavirus-related medical equipment to Israel, including PCR kits that will allow for an additional 1,000 coronavirus tests to preformed daily, Channel 12 reported.
Also included in the delivery were ventilators, flasks for producing hand sanitizer, reagents – a medical product used in testing – from South Korea and an HIV medicine from India that is currently being used as an experimental treatment in coronavirus patients. Additionally, according to the Health Ministry, the Mossad is working on procuring 47 different drugs and anesthetics that Israel is lacking, Channel 12 reported.
The Mossad was put in charge of obtaining medical equipment from abroad. Mossad director Yossi Cohen heads a special command center along with other national security units and the Health Ministry.
The organization has so far been responsible for operations leading to the delivery of 10 million medical masks, including tens of thousands of N95 masks, in addition to a large quantity ventilators.
During one operation in March, Cohen succeeded in bringing over 100,000 coronavirus testing kits. However, it was found that they lacked a specific component, inhibiting the tests from operating. Days later, Israel succeeded in developing the missing component; a patented liquid the test sticks need to be dipped into before a screening can be administered.
Yonah Jeremy Bob and Maayan Jaffe-Hoffman contributed to this report.