US scientists developing a mask sensor that detects the novel coronavirus

UCSD is developing a mask-borne sensor that detects the coronavirus. — UCSD/TNS

SAN DIEGO: The National Institutes of Health has awarded the University of California, San Diego US$1.3mil (RM5.25mil) to develop a small, wearable sensor that can tell whether a person has the novel coronavirus or has been exposed to it by someone else.

The lightweight sensor would be attached to face masks to monitor for the presence of coronavirus-related molecules that appear in a person’s breath and saliva.