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.

中文翻译：

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社区环境中高接触表面上 SARS-CoV-2 RNA 的纵向监测

表面污染的环境监测是了解 SARS-CoV-2 在社区环境中传播的尚未探索的工具。2020 年 4 月至 6 月期间，我们在马萨诸塞州的一个小镇爆发了 COVID-19 疫情期间，对高接触无孔表面进行了纵向拭子采样。348 个表面样本中有 29 个 (8.3%) 的 SARS-CoV-2 RNA 呈阳性，包括人行横道按钮、垃圾桶把手和重要商业入口（杂货店、酒类商店、银行和加油站）的门把手。根据定量微生物风险评估，接触受污染表面的估计感染风险较低（万分之五以下），这表明污染物在 SARS-CoV-2 社区传播中发挥的作用很小。每周阳性样本的百分比（每周n = 33 个独特表面）最好地预测了 7 天的准备时间内城市级 COVID-19 病例的变化。对高接触表面上的 SARS-CoV-2 RNA 进行环境监测可能是提供 COVID-19 病例趋势早期预警的有用工具。