How did Richard A. Rothschild apply for a Patent on a Test for COVID-19 on 10-13-2015 when COVID-19 didn't exist yet?

Here's a link to the Patent Application - HERE
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/patent/US-2020279585-A1

Check out the dates!

So how do you apply, in 2015, for a Patent for a testing system on a disease almost four years before the disease had even been named?

Just wondering is all . . .

Source:
https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/how-did-mr-rothschild-apply-for-a-covid-19-test-method-patent-in-2015-when-covid-19-didn-t-exist