Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => COVID-19 => Topic started by: colarris on 14/04/2020 16:02:32

Title: What test were Chinese officials applying to the forehead to diagnose Covid?
Post by: colarris on 14/04/2020 16:02:32

When this first became a major issue I saw news footage of officials in China holding some kind of small device in the faces random members of the public to test for infection. What device was they using and what exactly were they looking at?

Title: Re: What test were Chinese officials applying to the forehead to diagnose Covid?
Post by: Bored chemist on 14/04/2020 16:07:06

Could be a thermometer, or a political publicity stunt.
Or, give this, it could be a colourimeter.
http://www.rfi.fr/en/international/20200411-africans-targeted-in-southern-china-s-second-largest-city-as-covid-19-spreads

Title: Re: What test were Chinese officials applying to the forehead to diagnose Covid?
Post by: chiralSPO on 14/04/2020 16:08:18

I think they were infrared thermometers looking for people with fevers. A cheap and quick test that identifies people in need of more testing (many causes of fever), or at least greater extent of isolation/restriction based on being more likely to be infected/infectious.

Title: Re: What test were Chinese officials applying to the forehead to diagnose Covid?
Post by: Bored chemist on 14/04/2020 16:15:46

... and, given that most people are infections for a considerable time before they are ill, measuring temperatures is a pretty unreliable measure.
Unfortunately it may be the best we can do at the moment.

Title: Re: What test were Chinese officials applying to the forehead to diagnose Covid?
Post by: colarris on 14/04/2020 20:11:19

Appreciate the replies.  :)