By: TPS Staff
An initial study conducted in Israel has revealed that between 200,000 and 300,000 people in the country have been infected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19), about 2.5% of Israel’s population.
The survey, conducted by Tel Aviv University and MDA among 1,700 people from all over the country and in all age groups, relied on serological testing for Immunoglobulin G antibodies.
The IGG antibodies indicate a response by the body’s immune system to the virus and are the most common type of antibody found in blood circulation.
Such a reaction usually develops two or three weeks after exposure and also occurs in people who have been infected by the virus but have not developed the symptoms of the disease.
The presence of antibodies was slightly higher in the 40-60 age group, and lower in the 0-19 age group. Another figure discovered was the higher prevalence of the antibodies in men compared to women.
Israel has 17,169 confirmed Coronavirus cases.
Professor Danny Cohen, Head of the School of Public Health at Tel Aviv University who led the testing, noted that for every confirmed case, there are 11 to 16 other cases that have not been documented.
However, he said that Israel is far from the 60% infection rate that is required to achieve herd immunity.
The state has plans to conduct some serological 150,000 to provide a more accurate picture of the COVID-19 infection rate in Israel.
In another development, TPS reported that an employee of the Prime Minister’s Office was found positive to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Monday, raising the possibility that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have to enter quarantine again.
The PMO said it was investigating when he came into contact with Netanyahu and his immediate surroundings, and whether they would be required to enter isolation.
The employee handled the preparations for the Netanyahu’s Saturday night declaration regarding the Coronavirus.
“An epidemiological inquiry is being conducted, at the end of which appropriate guidelines will be given to those who came in contact with him,” the PMO stated.
This is the second time Netanyahu is facing such a situation.
At the end of March, Rivkah Paloch, Netanyahu’s aid on Ultra-Orthodox issues, was diagnosed with the novel Coronavirus and Netanyahu entered a quarantine.
He left isolation after two days, but then it was revealed that then-Minister of Health Jacob Litzman also carried the virus. Netanyahu again went into isolation for about a week.
(TPS)
