israeli MyHeritage Corona testing laboratory project was put on hold unexpectedly

The Ministry of Health has unexpectedly frozen the agreement with Mae Heritage to set up a corona testing lab. The lab, which was first published in Calcalist, was scheduled to conduct about 10,000 tests a day starting April 9, and subsequently reach 20,000. The company has already rented a dedicated location in Petah Tikva, and its partner, Chinese BGI, has launched.
The cause of the freeze is unclear at this time. Mae Heritage did not respond, but close associates stated that the cancellation was not initiated and is correct at all times to complete the project.
The company was supposed to run the lab for a profit, contributing to the national effort to quickly identify patients before infecting others, as states that have been successful in overcoming the virus. All laboratory revenue should be donated to Israeli hospitals.

The MyHeritage project informed they need urgently 150 employees for a new Corona testing lab for a full partnership with the Ministry of Health and with the assistance of the Department of Defense.
The lab will be set up on a timely schedule around Petah Tikva and will begin operating in less than two weeks with shift work. Advantage for those who have previous experience in laboratory work, but some of the jobs are also open to outstanding academics who have no previous laboratory experience, and they will learn the practical work in the field.
MyHeritage will run the lab non-profit, with a desire to contribute to the national effort to quickly identify patients before infecting others, as states that have been successful in overcoming the virus. All laboratory revenue will be donated to Israeli hospitals. The lab workers' jobs are fully paid to the employees.

The Israeli MyHeritage company, in collaboration with Chinese genetics giant BGI, will set up a corona testing laboratory in an expedited and timely schedule. The lab will be able to conduct about 10,000 tests a day, starting from the first day of its establishment, which is scheduled to be completed by April 9. Subsequently, it will soon reach 20,000 tests a day. So far, 12 people have died in the Corona outbreak.
These tests are a significant part of the 30,000 tests that are expected to be conducted in Israel every day for more than two weeks, reported earlier this Friday by the Ministry of Health.
The Chinese company has already set up a similar laboratory in Wuhan City, the epidemic outbreak in just five days, and another lab in Shenzhen.
"At present there are not enough tests in the country, so the infection is continuing. It will be a private laboratory owned by us and the Chinese company, without the involvement of the Chinese government," says Gilad.
Yefet, CEO of MyHeritage, will send bgi to Israel an air train of equipment that reminds me of the weapons shipments Israel received from the United States during the Yom Kippur War. Of the virus. The Chinese will send robots to produce RNA and dozens of related equipment. "
Yefet explains: "At the same time, we have an important role to play in recruiting 110 people to the lab on a crazy schedule so that it will work from April 9. Alongside the air train, about 25 experts from China will come to train us on the equipment. The Chinese will not be isolated because they They will come with certificates that indicate that they are negative for the virus and that they will be exempted. "
Mei Heritage operates in the field of pedigrees and DNA testing, and is considered one of the leading companies in the field. The company has about 500 employees in Israel and around the world. "We had business contacts for a year with BGI and she offered us a long time to set up a DNA lab for us to use. Thanks to the relationship he developed, we were able to bring the lab to Israel very quickly now. "
BGI has been in existence since 1999 and employs about 6,000 people. The company manufactures paving machines and genetic analysis and is Asia's leading manufacturer in this field. "When the virus broke out in Wuhan, the Chinese government contacted the company and it set up a testing lab in just five days and ran tests for more than half a million people, which allowed the Chinese to put out the virus's fire.
"As part of the May Heritage project, the money is donated, and the Chinese donate all their equipment and manpower. The State of Israel will use the laboratory for a certain amount of testing that will return both companies to half of their investment," says Yefet. "May Heritage guarantees that this is a non-profit venture. We pledge that when we finish repaying the initial investment, if there is a profit from the tests, we will donate it to the necessary equipment for hospitals in Israel."
"This is the beautiful time of the Israeli high-tech industry, I think the entire industry needs to be recruited and I am proud of our employees who have joined in to assist in this process. It does not replace the tests in Israel but is a much needed addition. I recommend to immediately check all the medical staff in Israel and the food system - cashiers , Supermarket workers, food messengers, etc. Anyone who comes in contact with many people and can catch up to them. The additional testing capacity can save lives. The state currently does not know exactly how many patients there are in Israel and what is the true mortality rate, and therefore cannot stop the burdensome closure. Give us a lot of knowledge and help to eventually return to normal life, "a Mr. Japhet.
"I believe the virus is going to stay with us and I am very worried that it will come back to us more aggressively. It already has several strains and its latest versions are very deadly, even for young people. In many affected Europe they are 60 and under. Thus, his new mutations are very strong, Coruna should not be underestimated, "Yefet concludes.