Another study collected tears and conjunctival secretions using a swab of the lower fornix. 76  The study included 21 patients with ‘common‐type’ and nine patients with ‘severe‐type’ COVID‐19. Fifty‐eight conjunctival swab samples from 20 common‐type patients and nine severe‐type patients were all negative. Two conjunctival swabs of one common‐type patient yielded viral RNA upon PCR (three per cent). In contrast, 55 of 60 sputum samples were positive upon PCR (92 per cent). 76  A third study examined 63 confirmed COVID‐19 patients and four suspected patients by PCR for viral RNA of conjunctival swabs. 77  Only one conjunctival sample was confirmed positive by PCR, and the only patient with conjunctivitis was negative. 77