Scientists developing face masks to detect coronavirus

The researchers of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology are developing a face mask to produce a fluorescent signal when a person with the coronavirus breathes, coughs, or sneezes, report says citing Business Insider.

If the technology proves successful, it could address flaws associated with other screening methods like temperature checks.

A professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Jim Collins says his lab’s current project is in the “very early stages,” but the results have been promising. For the past few weeks, his team has been testing the sensors’ ability to detect the novel coronavirus in a small saliva sample.

The team hopes to demonstrate that the concept works within the next few weeks.

“Once we’re in that stage, then it would be a matter setting up trials with individuals expected to be infected to see if it would work in a real-world setting,” Collins said.