Gantz instructs Defense Ministry to ink deal with MyHeritage to triple virus testing capacity

Defense Minister Benny Gantz calls for his ministry’s procurement office to strike a deal with the MyHeritage DNA testing company to dramatically increase the number of coronavirus tests the company performs for the government, from roughly 10,000 tests per day to 30,000 within a few weeks, his office says.

The Defense Ministry says this decision was made “at the request of the Health Ministry,” and that it hopes to have an agreement signed with the company within the next few days.

“The Directorate of Production and Procurement in the Defense Ministry has launched a negotiation process with MyHeritage, in order to increase the company’s laboratory output threefold within a few weeks — from 10,000 daily tests to about 30,000 tests per day,” his office says.

“The Defense Ministry also aims to shorten response times by expanding automation processes and connecting the laboratory directly to healthcare providers,” the ministry says.

— Judah Ari Gross

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