China's plan for anal swabs to test for Covid-19 is 'not nice but it's the obvious thing to do'

[Johnboy60]

China has introduced anal swabs, as a new type of test that could detect coronavirus more accurately.

"If we add anal swab testing, it can raise our rate of identifying infected patients," Li Tongzeng, an infectious-disease specialist at Beijing You'an Hospital, said on state-run broadcaster China Central Television Sunday.

China's plan for anal swabs to test for Covid-19 is 'not nice but it's the obvious thing to do'

 

[bèlla]

The articles don’t mention it but the procedure is used on children too.

More than 1,000 schoolchildren and teachers in Beijing were given anal, throat and nose swabs last week, along with a separate antibody test, after one asymptomatic virus case was detected on campus, according to local officials.

China’s Zero-Tolerance Covid Tactics Now Include Anal Swabs (source: Bloomberg)

Yours in His Service,

~bella

 

[public hermit]

Anyone growing up with a mother who thought a suppository was a cure-all won't bat an eye at the prospect, I don't think.

 

[Ophiolite]

It should help us get to the bottom of epidemiological matters. (I hope that wasn't too cheeky.)

 

[SoldierOfTheKing]

There are reports that now that China has subjected US diplomatic staff to this procedure. In response to protests, China then said it was done "in error". I suppose as American, I should be angry at our diplomats being subjected to this kind of humiliation - but I haven't laughed this hard in years. Who knew the Chinese has such a keen sense of humor?

 

[Moral Orel]

I was at the doctor recently and he asked me to fill out some forms, and then he handed me a clipboard and a thermometer. I looked puzzled and said, "Uh, I can't fill these out with a thermometer" and he said, "Dang it! Some butthole has my pen!"

 

[FanthatSpark]

The domino effect... A lot of american & EU business in china. These people must take swabs to do business. They come back home and implement same measures corp wide. This trickles to the population under "I had to do it! Why not you?"

 

[Nithavela]

I'd rather hab a swab up my anus than covid in my lungs, so where do I sign up?