The current global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a tremendous public health challenge globally. While the respiratory transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has been established, evolving reports on the impact of the gastrointestinal system and the prolonged faecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 show the likelihood of faecally mediated transmission. The increasing evidential presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and faecal material poses a significant public health threat which may potentiate global vulnerability to high risk of human exposure through environmental drivers especially in less developed countries. While extensively exploring the likelihood of faecally mediated SARS-CoV-2 transmission, infection control and prevention measures aimed at mitigating this pandemic should holistically include environmental drivers.

当前由严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 引起的全球 2019 冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 大流行已成为全球巨大的公共卫生挑战。虽然 SARS-CoV-2 的呼吸道传播已经确定，但有关胃肠系统影响和 SARS-CoV-2 长期粪便排出的不断变化的报告显示了粪便介导传播的可能性。废水和粪便中 SARS-CoV-2 的存在日益明显，对公共卫生构成了重大威胁，可能会通过环境驱动因素，特别是在欠发达国家，加剧全球对人类暴露高风险的脆弱性。在广泛探索粪便介导的 SARS-CoV-2 传播的可能性的同时，旨在缓解这一流行病的感染控制和预防措施应全面包括环境驱动因素。