South Korea OKs Single Test for COVID-19 and Flu

Health officials in South Korea have approved a new test for the disease COVID-19. The test can identify both signs of COVID-19 and seasonal¹ influenza² from the same blood samples.

Officials say the exam could help prevent problems at hospitals as the medical community continues battling the coronavirus.

As 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.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported 118 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. Most of the cases were in Seoul, a densely³ populated city.

The number of infections nationwide is 26,925, including 474 deaths.

South Koreans have been increasingly going out in public after the government eased social distancing restrictions⁴ last month to help the weak economy.

Health officials have used trace contacts and other measures to control the virus, but "such efforts have been outpaced by the speed of viral spread," noted⁵ Health Ministry⁶ official Yoon Taeho. Yoon spoke⁷ during a press conference.

The new test targets genes⁸ 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 genetic⁹ materials so that even very small amounts of the virus can be measured.

COVID-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.

Also, 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.

India has a total of 8.3 million cases, with 123,611 deaths from COVID-19.

In 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.

Sri 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 gatherings¹⁰.

Words in This Story

influenza – n. a common virus that often affects people in the winter

sample – n. a small piece of something that is tested

trace- adj. following previous contacts with humans

outpace – v. to move beyond a marker

symptom – n. an indicator¹¹ that one might be sick, a cough or fever

burden – n. a heavy load to carry

quarantine – v. to isolate someone who has a contagious disease

1 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

2 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。

3 densely   

ad.密集地；浓厚地

参考例句：

• A grove of trees shadowed the house densely. 树丛把这幢房子遮蔽得很密实。
• We passed through miles of densely wooded country. 我们穿过好几英里茂密的林地。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

7 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

9 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

10 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

11 indicator   

n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器

参考例句：

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
• His left-hand indicator is flashing.他左手边的转向灯正在闪亮。