China has recently begun using a new form of testing for Covid-19; anal swabs. According to state TV, the country is performing the tests on those it considers at high risk of contracting the virus.
1. Increased detection
Chinese Central Television (CCTV) reported that in Beijing last week, officials took anal swabs from residents of neighbourhoods with confirmed Covid-19 cases, and those in designated quarantine facilities have also had the test. This method, although a more invasive procedure, is more effective in detecting the virus, say doctors.
Li Tongzeng, a senior doctor from Beijing’s You’an Hospital, explained to CCTV that the anal swabs method “can increase the detection rate of infected people” as traces of the virus linger longer in the anus than in the respiratory tract. However CCTV said on Sunday that anal swabs would not be used as widely as other methods, as the technique was “not convenient.”
2. Recent outbreaks
In recent weeks, small and localised outbreaks have led to multiple cities in northern China being sealed off from the rest of the country, which has prompted mass testing campaigns. However these have up until now been conducted mostly using throat and nose swabs.
3. Reactions
The new method of testing has caused mixed reactions, and people have taken to Weibo, China’s popular Twitter-like social media platform, to leave their comments of both entertainment and horror. Such comments include: “So lucky I returned to China earlier” and “Low harm, but extreme humiliation”.
One person, who had the swab, commented, “I’ve done two anal swabs, every time I did one I had to do a throat swab afterwards — I was so scared the nurse would forget to use a new swab”.
4. Regulations
As cases increase again worldwide, China has implemented stricter requirements on international arrivals to keep domestic transmission as low as possible. They have also tightened domestic restrictions, with Beijing barring people from medium and high risk areas from the city from Thursday to reduce the risk of virus transmission over the Lunar New Year period. Arrivals into the country must have several negative test results as well as quarantine for at least 14 days in a designated hotel. Many cities and regions have also imposed additional home observation requirements.
