A medical worker takes samples at a Covid-19 drive-through testing station in Rome (Photo: AP)

They hope to issue ‘licenses’ to individuals with proven immunity allowing them to return to work.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has begun conducting blood tests it says will help determine if a person has been exposed to the coronavirus, even if they have shown no symptoms.

The Russian Federal Medical-Biological Agency said it has started testing drugs with which to treat patients infected with the Sars-CoV-2 virus.

South Korean officials say they have successfully cured two elderly patients using blood plasma from two recovered patients.

Iran says it will manufacture Covid-19 test kits that can produce results in 20 minutes, adding that the kits can also detect the HIV and bird flu viruses.