South Korea turns COVID testing booth contactless

A South Korean hospital has come up with a revolutionary way to test patients for COVID-19.

It has turned a testing booth into a mobile, contactless clinic.

Patients enter rooms that seal automatically to reduce the spread of pathogens.

Nurses can then reach patients through windows fitted with rubber gloves, and doctors can speak remotely via video.

Telemedicine for basic treatment can also be accessed in the booth.

Previously, patients with fever or respiratory symptoms had to wait long hours to see a doctor - and had to be isolated.

Here's Lee Me-Yeon, the director of Hallym University Medical Center:

"It is very difficult for people with fever or respiratory symptoms to get professional medical treatment due to the coronavirus situation, but we've solved this problem by installing a glove wall where patients can see and hear well."

Hallym Hospital developed the one-stop clinic to protect staff - freeing them from the burden of wearing full-body protective gear in the sweltering heat.

Some nurses, like Joung Eun Sol, are still needed on site for basic COVID-19 testing or temperature checks.

But they no longer need to put on high protection gear - gloves, safety glasses, face shield and chemical-resistant boots.

"The hardest thing was the hot weather, but I also couldn't communicate with patients, and it was hard to breathe. It's really good as I don't need to wear level D personal protective equipment. I was not able to use the bathroom easily or eat any food (with PPE). But now it's really nice that I don't have to wear uncomfortable level D. So I can use the bathroom and eat food. And I can communicate well with the patients through the microphone."

Hallym's hospital director says the technology could even serve as a treatment system in countries where doctors and medical resources are more scarce.