Coronavirus: New Global Test Will Give Results 'In Minutes'

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that a test that can diagnose Covid-19 in minutes would greatly increase the potential to identify cases in low- and middle-income nations.

In less prosperous nations, which have shortages of healthcare staff and labs, the $5 (£3.80) test could turn Covid-19 monitoring.

A deal with manufacturers will provide 120 million tests over six months.

The WHO's head called it a major milestone.

Long gaps between taking a test and getting a result have hindered the attempts of many countries to monitor coronavirus spread.

Experts have said in some countries with high rates of infection, including India and Mexico, that low rates of testing mask the true spread of their outbreaks.

The "new, highly portable and easy-to-use test" will provide results in 15-30 minutes instead of hours or days, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference on Monday.

Drug manufacturers Abbott and SD Biosensor have agreed to manufacture 120 million of the tests with the charitable Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr Tedros explained.

The agreement encompasses 133 countries, including those in Latin America, which is currently the region most seriously impacted by the pandemic in terms of deaths and infection rates.