Starting Wednesday evening, following the end of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), the Magen David Adom (MDA) delegation will operate a system of rapid (molecular) coronavirus tests in Ukraine.

The system will serve the tens of thousands of Israelis who arrived for Rosh Hashanah prayers in Uman. The MDA teams running the testing centers have so far reported a high percentage of positive test results.

The MDA delegation, which numbers over one hundred medics and paramedics, arrived at the request of the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is working in cooperation with the Ukrainian Red Cross and the Israeli Embassy to enable Israelis to return safely.

Meanwhile, as of Wednesday evening, MDA staff have reported a high percentage of positive coronavirus tests among those being tested in Uman.

MDA Director General Eli Bin arrived in Ukraine with the teams in order to monitor the organization's activities and the array of samples. Prior to the holiday, MDA teams set up two test sites at the Kiev airport terminal and another site near the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in Uman, Ukraine.

The rapid test provides an answer within half an hour, at a very high level of accuracy equivalent to that of a PCR test approved by the FDA. After receiving the answer, they will receive a printed certificate through the Magen David Adom technology systems, with which they will be able to board a flight back to Israel.

Eli Bin, MDA Director General, said: "The State of Israel has assigned Magen David Adom the task of rapid tests in Ukraine. The tests we perform in Ukraine are a new type of molecular test that provides a result in about half an hour. Magen David Adom teams are deployed in 30 stands in each terminal and near the site marking Rabbi Nachman's tomb and will provide the result to all those returning to Israel."

"The task is to prevent the entry of sick people or new strains of the virus into the State of Israel. This is MDA's mission, we will carry it out and return to Israel safely."