MDA sent some 70 EMTs and paramedics to Uman, Ukraine to administer Covid tests to Orthodox Jews before they return to Israel following their annual Rosh HaShanah pilgrimage. Approximately 30,000 Israelis observed the holiday at the grave of Nachman of Breslov, an influential 18th century rabbi who was a great-grandson of Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, the founder of the Jewish Hasidic movement.
To optimize the testing protocol, MDA used Rapid Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAAT), which detects viral RNA. The Rapid NAAT tests produce results in 30 minutes, only slightly longer than a rapid antigen test, but at an accuracy rate more akin to a PCR Test, which typically takes 24 hours for results.
MDA paramedics and EMTs arrived just before the eve of the Rosh HaShanah holiday on Sunday and Monday and began administering the nasal swabs at as many as 25 testing checkpoints, both in Uman and at Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv.
Watch MDA Director-General Eli Bin describe the mission and view the preparations for testing:
