Israel inaugurates rapid Covid test stations

Israel installed rapid antigen test stations across the country on Sunday, August 8, amid a surge in coronavirus cases in recent weeks.

“At the request of the Ministry of Health, Magen David Adom (MDA) the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross, opened 120 stations for the rapid detection of the coronavirus this Sunday,” says a statement from MDA.

The rapid test, intended in particular for people who have not been vaccinated and need a health pass or are already cured of Covid-19, offers results in 15 minutes.

The test costs 52 shekels (about $19) that allows people to obtain a health pass valid for 24 hours from the Ministry of Health,

Since Sunday morning, unvaccinated people must present proof of less than 24 hours, while the ministry also announced that the health pass will be extended to those under 12 years of age from August 20.

“Confinement will be imposed as a last resort,” Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said in a statement, welcoming the launch of the rapid test.

Israel, with nine million people, was one of the first countries to launch a vast vaccination campaign in December, thanks to an agreement with the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. The deal gave the Jewish state quick access to millions of doses paid for in exchange for biomedical data on the effects of the vaccine.