Longitudinal Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on High-Touch Surfaces in a Community Setting

Abstract

Environmental surveillance of surface contamination is an unexplored tool for understanding transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in community settings. We conducted longitudinal swab sampling of high-touch non-porous surfaces in a Massachusetts town during a COVID-19 outbreak from April to June 2020. Twenty-nine of 348 (8.3%) surface samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, including crosswalk buttons, trash can handles, and door handles of essential business entrances (grocery store, liquor store, bank, and gas station). The estimated risk of infection from touching a contaminated surface was low (less than 5 in 10,000) by quantitative microbial risk assessment, suggesting fomites play a minimal role in SARS-CoV-2 community transmission. The weekly percentage of positive samples (out of n = 33 unique surfaces per week) best predicted variation in city-level COVID-19 cases with a 7-day lead time. Environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on high-touch surfaces may be a useful tool to provide early warning of COVID-19 case trends.

Preliminary accuracy of COVID-19 odor detection by canines and HS-SPME-GC-MS using exhaled breath samples

“…For example, the canines in this study detected and alerted to items such as garbage bins, office desks, folders/files, chairs and air filters in filtration units. A recent study by Harvey et al reported 8.3% of surfaces swabbed and sampled, including garbage can lids, crosswalk buttons, and door handles, were positive for SARS CoV-2 RNA [ 51 ]. While this is an ongoing study, these four canines do support other studies that have conducted COVID-19 environmental surveillances.…”

Inanimate Objects and the Environment Are Far From Contributing to COVID-19 Spread

“…The literature contains reports showing detection of SARS-CoV-2 in hospital environments 12,13,19 . However, it has been recently reported that the risk of acquiring COVID-19 by touching contaminated surfaces in less than 5 in 10,000 20 . In addition, although SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been detected in hospital environment the virus could not be isolated in cell culture 19 .…”

The viability of SARS-CoV-2 on solid surfaces

“…RNA from SARS-CoV-2 has been found on surfaces in hospitals [ [27∗] , [28∗] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] ], laboratories [ 33 ], and public places [ 32 , 34 ]. Here we summarize some of the results of sampling for viral RNA by the polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR).…”

“…Harvey et al [ 34 ] explored the presence of virus in public places over 2 months (from April to June 2020). They checked door handles, gas pump handles, ATM keypads, garbage cans, crosswalk buttons in essential businesses (i.e., grocery stores, banks, gas stations, restaurants, laundromats, and a few more).…”