Mask alerts wearer that coronavirus is in the air

A MASK that can detect coronavirus in just 10 minutes has been developed by Chinese scientists.

The face covering has a sensor that can detect the novel bug in the air and alert the wearer via an app on their phone. It can also pick up swine flu and bird flu – those diseases spread through droplets in the air released by infected people when they talk, cough or sneeze.

The tiny, invisible molecules can remain suspended in the air for a long time and people catch the illnesses by breathing in a big cluster of the molecules as they lurk.

Study author Dr Yin Fang, of Shanghai Tongji University, said: “Previous research has shown face mask wearing can reduce the risk of spreading and contracting the disease.

“We wanted to create a mask that can detect the presence of virus in the air and alert the wearer.

“Our mask would work really well in spaces with poor ventilation, such as lifts or enclosed rooms, where the risk of getting infected is high.

“In the future, if a new respiratory virus emerges, we can easily update the sensor’s design for detecting the novel pathogens.”

The findings were published in the journal Matter.