TEL AVIV: Israel’s Ministry of Defense and Israeli defense industries are working to develop and deploy defense technologies adapted for use in the fight against COVID-19. Israel’s Mossad managed to put its hands on critical supplies from other countries needed for Israeli hospitals. No further details are available on these Mossad missions but sources here say that they were performed “with all the assets the organization has”.

The National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) in the Israel Ministry of Defense is cooperating closely with its American counterpart, FEMA. Some of the Israeli technologies will be shared to help the American health authorities in their fight against the novel coronavirus..

The National Emergency Team, headed by Brig. Gen. Dr. Dani Gold, has decided to adopt something made by Eyal Zussman of the Technion’s faculty of mechanical engineering, a unique sticker that may be attached to a face mask to increase its protective capabilities.

The so-called Maya sticker is produced using a 3-D printer. It’s composed of nanoscale fibers coated with disinfectants – a mechanism that enhances the capture and neutralization of nanoscale particles. It was developed in collaboration with the scientists of the Department of Chemistry and Biological Infrastructure in the the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D).

The Maya sticker joins a comprehensive set of tools developed and adapted by the DDR&D to combat the COVID-19 virus on every level: rapid diagnosis and early detection of virus carriers, curbing the spread of the virus, monitoring patients and preventing the infection of medical professionals.

At another level. the National Emergency Team has adapted two systems developed by defense industries Elbit and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), to remotely measure patients’ vital signs. The data, including pulse, respiratory rate and temperature, are measured remotely using a combination of radar and electro-optical sensors, reducing the risk of infection to medical personnel. The next stage of development: screening and prioritizing patient care based on the analysis of vital data.

The vital signs will be displayed on a monitor for the physician to review and the data can be displayed in a graphic user interface that facilitates decision-making processes. The system will let medical staff remain in a sterile environment and limit contact with the patient.

An intriguing test that will begin in coming days will sample the voices of carriers and patients diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus, using a mobile application developed by Israeli start-up, Vocalis Health. These voice samples will be analyzed using an AI-based algorithm in order to identify the unique vocal ‘fingerprint’ of carriers and patients. This information will be useful in both early diagnosis and in the monitoring of patients to detect the deterioration or improvement in their health.

In addition to pressing ahead with new technologies the Defense Ministry has recruited Israeli companies, Flight Medical and Baya Technologies, with defense industry company RAFAEL, to expand ventilator production. So far, 63 ventilators have been manufactured locally and delivered to the Ministry of Health. In coming weeks, hundreds of additional ventilators will be manufactured.

In other news, a system based on an Elbit Systems’ Command & Control (C2) technology was repurposed in recent weeks and is being used at the Rambam hospital in Haifa. EX-TEAMS, a cell-based management and control system helps manage the medical workforce and patients. It’s been installed on the personal cell phones of 100 medical professionals working with COVID-19 patients.

EX-TEAMS is a cloud-based application installed that provides secure location-based personal and group voice data and video communications. It also enables a paper-less medical paperwork processing. The system prioritizes response efforts, efficient mission-focused allocation of workforce and assets and rapid assignment and deployment of emergency teams. It can be deployed in a few days without investing in new equipment or changes to existing communication and IT networks.

Rambam intends to extend the deployment to more than 1,000 employees. An effective answer to the plague’s massive “management and control challenge is critical calling for the implementation of an advanced and proven military-like command and control technology,” Dr. Oren Caspi noted from the hospital.