Israel is preparing to purchase 10,000 respirators from the United States and Gulf countries (unnamed) in order to enhance its medical capabilities, to face the scenario of an outbreak of the Corona virus, according to the Israeli media.
The official Kan channel said that the Israeli Prime Minister's office issued a statement yesterday, Tuesday, stating that in light of the lack of medical equipment, a team was formed led by Mossad chief Yossi Cohen and National Security Council Chairman Meir Bin Shabat to purchase the equipment from abroad.
The channel said that it is being talked about buying 10 thousand respirators from countries, including the United States and Gulf countries, without further details.
She added that Israel currently has about 3,000 respirators, but if the current infection rate, which doubles every 3 days, continues, matters will reach a disturbing situation that must be prepared for.
Earlier, the private channel 13 revealed a document by the Israeli Ministry of Health confirming that only 50 ventilators are left in its emergency stores, after dozens of such equipment was distributed to hospitals throughout Israel.
High casualties
And the Israeli Ministry of Health announced last night that the number of cases of Coronavirus in Israel had increased to 1930, and the number of deaths to three.
According to data reported by the Israel Broadcasting Corporation, 34 of the injured are in serious condition.
Meanwhile, the caretaker government led by Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to impose more restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus.
The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper pointed out that the new restrictions will enter into force this morning, and include a ban on the movement of Israelis beyond a hundred meters from their homes.
The army, too
In a related context, the Israeli army announced in a brief statement on its account on Twitter that the number of wounded in its ranks reached 27 soldiers.
Yesterday, Tuesday, the army announced that five soldiers had been wounded in Corona in the morning, before returning that evening, and two others were wounded.
It is reported that, as of yesterday evening, Corona afflicted more than 417 thousand people in the world, more than 18 thousand of whom died, while more than 108 thousand recovered.