Leading the fight against Covid

Israel is not only the fastest country in the world to vaccinate its population. It’s also leading the field with innovations to fight Covid-19 and sharing its successes.

Benjamin Netanyahu receiving Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.  Photo: GPO

Researchers from Ben-Gurion University in the Negev have developed a rapid and cost-effective test to identify Covid-19 within hours instead of days. At the same time, Israeli-American research has shown that individualist countries are hit harder than collectivist countries. The reason seems to be that individualistic societies are less inclined to take measures to prevent epidemics. Further, two private companies in the United Arab Emirates have signed a deal with two companies in Israel to develop research and technology to combat Covid-19. The deal was made “in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to strengthen international cooperation and continue coordinated efforts in research, development and technology in the service of humanity,” reported the United Arab Emirates’ state news agency WAM.

The deal was signed at a press conference in Abu Dhabi, shortly after Israel and the United Arab Emirates established diplomatic relations between the two states. After Israel, the United Arab Emirates has vaccinated the largest proportion of its population, worldwide. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also received Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in early March. The three agreed work together to vaccinate against Covid-19. The countries aim to work together to establish factories that can produce vaccines for covid-19, it emerged at a press conference in Israel with the leaders of the three countries.