Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem wants to improve its blood testing speed and capabilities in order to faster diagnose blood cancer and other infections, and has signed a research collaboration agreement with Sight Diagnostics, a company specializing in the development of artificial intelligence (AI)-based devices for blood count.

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Research will focus on developing the capability to detect and classify white blood cells, and specifically, to differentiate between different types of lymphocytes. Detecting malignant lymphocytes in the blood can aid in the early detection of the types of cancer that affect blood. This is a highly complex and often lengthy task using existing technology.

The research will be conducted using Sight Diagnostics' flagship device, Sight OLO, which performs a blood test in a matter of minutes using just two drops of blood.

Sight's Research and Development Team will analyze the images of the blood cells collected during the study and employ AI-based algorithms to cross-reference the visual information with clinical data from Shaare Zedek.

The company believes that the results of the research will lay the foundation for innovative diagnostic capabilities for different types of lymphocytes, and that these diagnostics could eventually help detect and monitor infections, as well as uncover malignant cells at an earlier stage than is possible at present.

Shaare Zedek and Sight Diagnostics began cooperating two years ago after the medical center inaugurated an innovation center that focuses on working with digital healthcare companies. The innovation center provides access to a database of samples and data collected at the hospital. A previous collaboration between Shaare Zedek and Sight Diagnostics focused on early detection of the coronavirus.

"The long-standing and fruitful collaboration between Shaare Zedek and Sight Diagnostics is an excellent example of our capacity to contribute to product development processes ... to develop technological solutions that will enable better and faster treatments for patients in Israel and around the world," said Dr. Renana Ofan, the head of the medical center's research and innovation efforts.

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Starting Sunday, public hospitals will no longer accept patients brought in by ambulance unless their lives are in immediate danger, the hospitals announced Saturday.

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The hospitals reported a dire lack of resources that has resulted in equipment shortages and the inability to pay suppliers, as well as meet ongoing operating expenses.

Officials from hospitals Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, Laniado Hospital in Netanya, Mayanei HaYeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak, and three hospitals in Nazareth met with Finance Ministry representatives on Thursday to negotiate budget raises, but the meeting yielded no results.

After ministry representatives refused to continue the negotiations, hospital officials called upon Prime Minister Netanyahu and Finance Minister Israel Katz to get involved in the matter as soon as possible and resolve the negotiations.

Health Ministry Director General Professor Hezi Levi condemned the hospitals' decision, saying that it did "not comply with Health Ministry procedures" and that patient care would continue as usual, alongside continued effort to regulate budget needs.

"I am aware of the budgetary difficulties you are experiencing," Levi said. "The Health Minister and I are dealing with the problem thoroughly [together] with the Finance Ministry. We will not accept a situation in which patients are used as means in a negotiation."

Hundreds of doctors, nurses, and other health care workers protested on Thursday outside the Finance Ministry and the prime minister's home in Jerusalem as a result of the situation in their hospitals.

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Israel's death toll from the virus stands at 223, whereas 8,758 have made a full recovery.

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Of the 7,023 cases listed as "active," 105 were listed in serious condition, including 83 patients on ventilators. Another 82 patients were listed in moderate condition, with the vast majority, 6,836, defined as light or minor cases. A total of 322 corona patients were being treated in hospitals and medical centers, with another 1,746 in hotels and 4,138 at home.

Meanwhile, the Keter Unit A at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, which opened on March 9 and was one of the first dedicated coronavirus treatment wards to launch in Israel, is now closed after the last three patients hospitalized there – ages 88, 91, and 93 – recovered from the virus and were released. Since March 9, dozens of corona patients have been treated at Shaare Zedek and released after recovering.

Shaare Zedek Director Professor Ofer Marin said that "the closure of our Keter A Unit is a landmark in the national battle against coronavirus. Shaare Zedek was one of the two hospitals that led the treatment of coronavirus and is now leading the research to find ways of treating the virus."   

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The baby, who was already in serious condition due to being born early, is hospitalized in the NICU at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.

Authorities suspect that the preemie might have been infected by a hospital staff member, but the possibility of him having contracted the virus from one of his visiting parents has not been ruled out.

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The hospital issued a statement about the case, explaining that "an employee at the medical center who has tested positive for coronavirus, apparently contracted through community spread, worked a few shifts at the hospital, including some in the NICU. After an investigation, it turned out that one of the premature babies in the unit, who was born in serious medical condition at a very low weight, was diagnosed as a carrier. Therefore, to avoid any possible contact, the baby's parents and a number of staff have been quarantined."

Shaare Zedek said it was taking all necessary steps to protect its staff and the patients.

Worldwide, there have been only a handful of cases of babies contracting coronavirus. 

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