The Health Ministry has purchased 2.4 million serological tests for coronavirus last week and intends to conduct widespread testing, Hebrew-language outlet N12 reported on Tuesday.
Serological tests check for antibodies in the blood that can indicate if a person has had COVID-19 and had developed an immunity to it.
Studies show that thousands of asymptomatic coronavirus carriers could be spreading the disease without realizing they are infected.
Serological tests of the population could help health officials determine what percentage of the populations may have been infected and in turn aid policymakers in deciding when and how much to reopen the economy.
According to N12, the tests would be carried out in three stages.
The first will consist of testing in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak.
The second will see testing in other communities with high rates of infection or with the potential for a further outbreak of the virus.
In the third stage, testing will be conducted in factories and other places of work.
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Residents of Bnei Brak during partial closure imposed on the city because of the spread of coronavirus
(Photo: AFP)
The ministry said that results will be examined at each stage to determine if a move to the next stage is warranted.
The report noted that serological tests have note yet to be proven to be 100% accurate, but since the Health Ministry anticipated a shortage of these tests in the near future, officials had decided to order the equipment as soon as possible.