South Korea OKs Single Test for COVID-19 and Flu
2020-11-05
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1Health officials in South Korea have approved a new test for the disease COVID-19.
2The test can identify both signs of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza from the same blood samples.
3Officials say the exam could help prevent problems at hospitals as the medical community continues battling the coronavirus.
4As the COVID-19 health crisis stretches into the flu season, South Korea, like most nations, has struggled to control the virus.
5Some experts are warning that the virus could spread easily during cold weather when people spend more time indoors.
6The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported 118 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.
7Most of the cases were in Seoul, a densely populated city.
8The number of infections nationwide is 26,925, including 474 deaths.
9South Koreans have been increasingly going out in public after the government eased social distancing restrictions last month to help the weak economy.
10Health officials have used trace contacts and other measures to control the virus,
11but "such efforts have been outpaced by the speed of viral spread," noted Health Ministry official Yoon Taeho.
12Yoon spoke during a press conference.
13The new test targets genes that are found in both COVID-19 and seasonal flu.
14The test is a more complex version of the tests that are used to identify COVID-19 from fluids taken from noses or throats.
15Laboratories use machines to enlarge genetic materials so that even very small amounts of the virus can be measured.
16COVID-19 and the flu are hard to tell apart by their symptoms, said Yoon.
17So, getting an answer in three to six hours would help patients and "also reduce the burden of medical workers," he added.
18Also, on Wednesday, India's capital New Delhi reported a record high of 6,725 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours.
19It is the highest number of new cases since March.
20New Delhi has been reporting about 5,200 infections a day this past week.
21India has a total of 8.3 million cases, with 123,611 deaths from COVID-19.
22In Sri Lanka, more than 200 policemen have been infected with the coronavirus as cases increase in and around the capital, Colombo.
23Another 2,200 officers have been quarantined because of the virus.
24Health officials have linked the infections to the country's main fish market.
25Sri Lanka's total number of cases since March have reached 11,744, including 23 deaths.
26The government has ordered a curfew in the densely populated Western province.
27Officials have closed schools and major public offices, and banned public gatherings.
28I'm Susan Shand.
1Health officials in South Korea have approved a new test for the disease COVID-19. The test can identify both signs of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza from the same blood samples. 2Officials say the exam could help prevent problems at hospitals as the medical community continues battling the coronavirus. 3As the COVID-19 health crisis stretches into the flu season, South Korea, like most nations, has struggled to control the virus. Some experts are warning that the virus could spread easily during cold weather when people spend more time indoors. 4The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported 118 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. Most of the cases were in Seoul, a densely populated city. 5The number of infections nationwide is 26,925, including 474 deaths. 6South Koreans have been increasingly going out in public after the government eased social distancing restrictions last month to help the weak economy. 7Health officials have used trace contacts and other measures to control the virus, but "such efforts have been outpaced by the speed of viral spread," noted Health Ministry official Yoon Taeho. Yoon spoke during a press conference. 8The new test targets genes that are found in both COVID-19 and seasonal flu. The test is a more complex version of the tests that are used to identify COVID-19 from fluids taken from noses or throats. Laboratories use machines to enlarge genetic materials so that even very small amounts of the virus can be measured. 9COVID-19 and the flu are hard to tell apart by their symptoms, said Yoon. So, getting an answer in three to six hours would help patients and "also reduce the burden of medical workers," he added. 10Also, on Wednesday, India's capital New Delhi reported a record high of 6,725 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours. It is the highest number of new cases since March. New Delhi has been reporting about 5,200 infections a day this past week. 11India has a total of 8.3 million cases, with 123,611 deaths from COVID-19. 12In Sri Lanka, more than 200 policemen have been infected with the coronavirus as cases increase in and around the capital, Colombo. Another 2,200 officers have been quarantined because of the virus. Health officials have linked the infections to the country's main fish market. 13Sri Lanka's total number of cases since March have reached 11,744, including 23 deaths. The government has ordered a curfew in the densely populated Western province. Officials have closed schools and major public offices, and banned public gatherings. 14I'm Susan Shand. 15The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 16________________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18influenza - n. a common virus that often affects people in the winter 19sample - n. a small piece of something that is tested 20trace- adj. following previous contacts with humans 21outpace - v. to move beyond a marker 22symptom - n. an indicator that one might be sick, a cough or fever 23burden - n. a heavy load to carry 24quarantine - v. to isolate someone who has a contagious disease