“Operation Breathing Space”: Israeli Team In India Begins Work On Developing ‘30 Second’ Rapid Diagnostic Covid-19 Testing Kits

In a mission code-named “Operation Breathing Space”, a team of top Israeli defence scientists and health experts will collaborate with Indian counterparts to develop, test and deploy rapid diagnostic tests for Covid-19 that aims to provide results in under a minute, Hindustan Times reported

An Israeli team, that arrived in Delhi on Monday (Jul 28), will work with Indian counterparts with an aim to jointly develop at least four different kinds of rapid tests, and deploy it after conducting trials on Indian COVID-19 patients.

The joint effort also plans to develop high-tech equipment to minimise exposure of medical staff to the virus, advanced respirators and special sanitisers developed in Israel.

The team, led by Israeli ambassador Ron Malka, reached the national capital in a special flight from Tel Aviv that also carried cutting-edge equipment contributed by Israel’s foreign ministry and private companies. The cargo included dozens of ventilators whose export is barred by Israel, and are being provided to India through “an exceptional approval”, Israeli officials said.

The Israeli team is currently working with Indian scientists led by K Vijayraghavan, principal scientific advisor to the prime minister, and experts from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop the rapid tests, which Israeli officials have said are expected to provide results in 30 seconds.

The Israeli team will deploy robotic equipment and wrist monitors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to help doctors and nurses monitor a patient without increasing risks of infection to themselves.