Studies have shown that people who experience a sudden loss of smell and taste may be hidden carriers of Covid-19.

Vinegar smell test

Using this discovery, military personnel at the U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) in Daegu, South Korea have begun to test people entering the camps by using cotton swabs dipped in vinegar.

From Apr. 3, random entrants are required to smell and detect the pungent-smelling liquid.

The cotton swabs are then immediately disposed of after testing.

"We are now performing random smell tests at the entrance gates of Camps Walker, Carroll and Henry to help better detect personnel who may be infected by COVID-19. Pictured here, a driver is checked at Gate 2 of Camp Henry in Daegu. Those personnel who cannot detect the smell will be further screened."

Those who have medical conditions that affect their ability to smell, or are allergic to vinegar, will have to inform the screeners.

A preventive measure

USAG Daegu explained that this is "less of a test and more of a check".

They added that the vinegar test is more for people who have not realised that their sense of smell is gone.

A U.S. Forces Korea spokesperson told Newsweek:

The smell test is an additional measure we have added to an already robust gate assessment procedure at our installations, which includes touch-less temperature checks and an assessment questionnaire that is constantly updated with current, applicable questions.

With this additional test in place, they hope that this will be a way to prevent any cases at the USAG Daegu base.

Currently, it is not known if the vinegar test is being used in other U.S. Garrison bases in South Korea.

To date, South Korea has reported 10,331 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 192 related deaths.

Top Image from USAG Daegu FB