South Korea reports more than 8-fold jump in exports of COVID-19 test kits

Medical staff wearing protective suits take samples from a person with suspected symptoms of the new coronavirus at a drive-thru virus test facility in Goyang, South Korea. – Pic AP

SEJONG: South Korea reported more than eight-fold jump in its exports of coronavirus test kits in April, data showed Thursday, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The value of test kit exports stood at US$201.2 million last month, compared with US$24 million in March, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service.

So far this year, South Korea has exported test kits to a total of 103 nations.

In the first four months of this year, South Korea exported US$225 million worth of coronavirus test kits.

Brazil imported US$30 million worth of test kits from South Korea, followed by Italy with US$22 million and India with US$21 million, the data showed.

The United States imported US$17 million worth of test kits from South Korea and Poland imported US$14 million worth of test kits, the data showed.

South Korea has appeared to bring the virus outbreak under control, with daily new infections falling below five in recent days. South Korea has tested about 640,000 people. – BERNAMA