In COVID-19 pandemics ordinary citizens are overwhelmed by the often contradictory information about transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through surfaces, especially outdoors. Citizen volunteers (N = 39) and researchers, working together for the first time on SARS-CoV-2 detection, searched this virus' RNA on outdoors urban furniture of Mieres (Asturias, Spain) during the summer of 2020. RNA extraction and RT-PCR were conducted using point-of-care technology. A wooden slide and a sanitizer dispenser gave positive amplification of Spike gene. Contrary to expectations of higher virus survival in cold humid conditions, positivity rate was significantly higher in sunny sampling days, perhaps reflecting a higher frequentation of public outdoors spaces. All the participants considered the experience totally satisfactory and declared to have acquired new useful knowledge to face the pandemic. Significant increases of self-declared knowledge about virus transmission and protection measures, and confidence in hands hygiene for COVID-19 prevention, were found in the citizen volunteers following this experience. Results suggest the need for more control of playgrounds and public sanitizer dispensers. They also show how citizen volunteers can help to detect potential environmental reservoirs of disease agents from RNA analysis. Finally, ordinary citizens involved in COVID-19 research in small groups, following adequate training and safety protocols, feel empowered while valuably co-creating knowledge with researchers.

在COVID-19大流行中，关于SARS-CoV-2通过水面特别是在室外传播的通常相互矛盾的信息使普通公民不知所措。公民志愿者（N = 39）和研究人员首次合作进行SARS-CoV-2检测，于2020年夏季在Mieres（西班牙阿斯图里亚斯）的户外城市家具中搜索了该病毒的RNA。RNA提取和RT -PCR是使用即时医疗技术进行的。一张木制幻灯片和一个消毒剂分配器对刺钉产生了正向放大作用基因。与在寒冷潮湿的条件下病毒存活率更高的预期相反，在阳光明媚的采样日中，阳性率显着更高，这可能反映了公共户外场所的频繁使用。所有参与者都认为这次经历完全令人满意，并宣布已经获得了应对流行病的新的有用知识。遵循此经验的公民志愿者发现，自我宣布的有关病毒传播和防护措施的知识显着增加，并且对手卫生预防COVID-19的信心增强。结果表明，需要对运动场和公共消毒剂分配器进行更多控制。他们还展示了公民志愿者如何从RNA分析中帮助发现潜在的疾病病原体。最后，