Israeli phone surveillance tech used in virus fight

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Tuesday that the government has begun deploying phone surveillance technology to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.

The technology can track the contacts of infected people, enabling health officials to locate and test them for the virus.

But the move has sparked widespread criticism from lawmakers and civil rights groups.

Netanyahu said Israel aimed to test at least 3,000 people a day, possible 5,000 people.

"As far as I know, in relation to the population, this is the highest number of tests in the world, even more than South Korea," he said.

337 people have been diagnosed in Israel, with the number quickly rising, triggering fears that fatalities could soon follow as experts predict many more difficult weeks ahead.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, but for some it can cause more severe illness.