Environmental Contamination of SARS-CoV-2 in a Non-Healthcare Setting

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

HapuarachchigeChanditha Hapuarachchi¹  LeeChing Ng¹  Carmen Koo¹  JudithChui Ching Wong¹  Sathish Arivalan¹  Diyar Mailepessov¹  Marcella Kong¹  Mohammad Nazeem¹  WeiPing Tien¹  Merrill Lim¹ 

[1] Environmental Health Institute, National Environmental Agency, 11, Biopolis Way, Helios Block, 06-05/08, Singapore 138667, Singapore;

关键词: SARS-CoV-2;    COVID-19;    environment;    surface contamination;    polymerase chain reaction;    fomite;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph18010117

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Fomite-mediated transmission has been identified as a possible route for the spread of COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. In healthcare settings, environmental contamination by SARS-CoV-2 has been found in patients’ rooms and toilets. Here, we investigated environmental presence of SARS-CoV-2 in non-healthcare settings and assessed the efficacy of cleaning and disinfection in removing virus contamination. A total of 428 environmental swabs and six air samples was taken from accommodation rooms, toilets and elevators that have been used by COVID-19 cases. By using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay, we detected two SARS-CoV-2 RNA positive samples in a room where a COVID-19 patient stayed prior to diagnosis. The present study highlights the risk of fomite-mediated transmission in non-healthcare settings and the importance of surface disinfection in spaces occupied by cases. Of note, neither air-borne transmission nor surface contamination of elevators, which were transiently exposed to infected individuals, was evident among samples analyzed.

【 授权许可】

Unknown