Coronavirus: Reward announced for getting tested for dreaded illness

Authorities in China have appealed to the people to come forward to get tested for the novel coronavirus that has claimed over 800 lives in the Asian nation so far. A reward of 1,000 yuan (around $143) has also been announced for those reaching the hospital to get tested.

The administration of Hubei province is said to have taken such an initiative after noticing that the streets of Wuhan, a city with a population of more than 1 crore, are looking almost deserted. People, fearing infection, have confined themselves to indoors.

According to the Global Times, the administration of Hubei Province said residents who experienced symptoms of fever should immediately go to the hospital and get examined. Residents who reach the hospital themselves and get tested, they will be given an incentive of 1,000 yuan.

Meanwhile, China`s Commerce Ministry said that seven million medical masks, three lakh protective suits and two lakh goggles donated by 21 countries, and an international organisation, have reached China, and everything would soon be distributed to the people.

On the other hand, the Beijing administration has banned the N95 mask for the public.

A similar d has been implemented in the Eastern Province of Zhejiang Province. The objective is that N95 masks are available to medical professionals who are engaged in the treatment of people suffering from this epidemic.

The Corona virus epidemic in China has killed over 800 people and infected more than 37,000 people.

Coronavirus test report possible in 15 minutes
A new test kit to detect coronavirus, that takes just 15 minutes, has been developed at Tianjin University of China. It will help save time in screening out potential patients.

According to Global Times, Tianjin University developed the kit in collaboration with Beijing Biotech company. The kit is undergoing clinical trials and will be sent to the health regulator for approval.

Earlier, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), Chinese health regulatory body, approved a kit developed by SunSure Biotech, which cut the screening time to 30 minutes.

The NMPA approved four test kits on January 26.

The coronavirus epidemic has claimed over 800 lives and infected more than 37,000 people in China.

During the 2003 SARS outbreak, more than 750 people had died and 8,437 were infected across the world. SARS had spread from China`s southern province of Guanzhou, while the coronavirus has stemmed from the Wuhan seafood market in the eastern central province of Hubei.

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The disease has spread to around 20 countries. Around 99 per cent patients are in China. On Saturday, two foreign nationals -- an American and a Japanese -- died of the disease.