Since March, Singapore has been conducting about 2,900 Covid-19 tests a day, according to The Straits Times.
These diagnostic tests — called a nasopharyngeal culture according to American news outlet Today — involve a deep nasal swab that collects a sample of secretions from the uppermost part of the throat, behind the nose.
Many videos of social media have also explained the process, such as this one.
Painful and uncomfortable
If just watching the video made you squirm, imagine what it must be like for Covid-19 patients who are hospitalised and have to consistently receive the test.
Speaking to Mothership, Kevin Goh, who's been hospitalised with Covid-19 since Mar. 24, said that the whole procedure typically takes about 30 seconds.
"It is pretty uncomfortable," he said.
"You can't breathe for a few seconds and the nurse asks you to tilt your head back and keep swallowing throughout the process which does help a little."
According to Goh, the unpleasant sensations linger after the swab is done, making it hard to tell if the procedure is over — "until the nurse tells you its time for the other nostril. Then you get a reminder of how it feels."
Another Covid-19 patient, Simon Gwozdz, said that he found the swab "irritating" but otherwise "quite ok".
The 29-year-old was discharged on April 6, after spending time at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) and then a community isolation facility in D'Resort.
"Most others were actively hostile towards getting these swabs," he told Mothership.
Gwozdz recalled that other patients who found the swab painful likened the test to "getting their nostrils violated".
"They were already moaning and groaning each time before (getting swabbed)."
Regular testing for confirmed patients
When he was at NTFGH, Gwozdz said swabs were conducted every other day, before being reduced to once every four days at D'Resort.
Goh, who is currently hospitalised at Gleneagles Hospital, said that he too was tested every four days.
These tests are conducted on confirmed Covid-19 patients to determine if they still have the virus.
Once a test returns with a negative result, Gwozdz said that another swab is taken the day after just to be sure.
As this screengrab from AMBOSS' YouTube video shows, the swab reaches fairly deep into the nose — about two inches.
Once in the nasopharynx, the swab is quickly rotated and removed according to Medline Plus.
Goh, however, said that he personally couldn't feel this part of the test.
"The sensation of it going in deep really overpowers everything."
Top image by Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via Getty Images