Coronavirus Generates 300% Increase in MDA Hotline Calls

By: TPS Staff

The sharp increase in Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections has generated a 300% rise in the number of calls to Magen David Adom (MDA) hotline, the emergency organization reported Sunday.

On Friday, 19,611 calls were received at the MDA 101 hotline – more than three times made on the last Friday in May. On Saturday, 13,048 calls were received at the 101-emergency dispatch center.

Since the outbreak of the virus the organization has carried out almost half a million tests for suspected COVID-19 infections.

According to MDA data, 143,268 samples were obtained in people’s homes and in the schools and 188,728 samples were obtained from residents and staff members at long term care facilities and nursing homes.

Another 142,038 tests were done at MDA’s Drive and Test facilities.

The drive-thru scheme allows for mass-testing, with complexes in city centers.

MDA’s blood services continue to collect plasma from Coronavirus recoveries for the treatment of severely ill patients and the production of a passive vaccine. To date, 1,314 of those recovered from Coronavirus have donated plasma, allowing for their donations to prepare 4,000 doses to treat 164 of the most severe cases.

The spike in calls to MDA reflected the increase in the number of daily infections in Israel.

The Ministry of Health updated Sunday evening that 719 new patients were registered over the course of 24 hours.

Over 11,677 Israelis are active patients, with 86 in serious condition, among them 27 on life support.

Some 17,950 have recovered.

Since the Coronavirus outbreak in the country, about 29,958 people have been diagnosed with the virus, and 331 have died.

Israel is in the midst of a second and more dangerous wave of Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections, Deputy Minister of Health Yoav Kish warned.

Kish addressed the Knesset’s special Corona Committee and noted that during the first wave of infections earlier this year there were about 10,000 patients, and Israel is now contending with over 11,000 active patients.

“We are in a long war of attrition. The percentage of confirmed patients registered a sharp increase from half a percent in mid-May to five percent of all tests today. We have doubled the number of patients in 10 days, there is a greater number of new patients,” he stated.

“We are experiencing a spreading of morbidity throughout the country” and “must work significantly to limit mass social events” including prayer in synagogues, he added.

In the four first days of July, Israel has already documented 40% of the number of patients it did in all of the month of June, and “we may end the month with 300-400 severely ill patient,” he warned.

New limitations on gatherings at public venues went into effect over the weekend but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that this was not enough to stem the spread of the virus.

“We must do what is required. Therefore, in the coming day, we will need another government meeting to make the necessary decisions in both practical and legislative steps,” he stated at the beginning of the weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday.

The Ministry of Health updated Sunday morning that 16,342 tests were performed in the past 24 hours, and 803 people tested positive.

There are 11,189 active patients in Israel, including 86 in serious condition, of them 29 are on life support.

Since the beginning of the outbreak in the country, 29,366 people have been diagnosed with the virus and 17, 847 people have recovered. 330 have died.

(TPS)