Short Communication
Environmental contamination by SARS-CoV-2 of an imported case during incubation period

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140620Get rights and content

Highlights

  • This study reports the existence of SARS-CoV-2 on the high-touch surfaces of dwelling environment.

  • Environmental results showed the widespread distribution of SARS-CoV-2 during the incubation period.

  • Inner walls of the toilet bowl and the sewer inlet were the most contaminated sites.

  • After the first disinfection, SARS-CoV-2 was still detectable on some object surfaces.

Abstract

We collected environmental surface samples prior to and after disinfection of a quarantine room to evaluate the stability of SARS-CoV-2 during the incubation period of an imported case traveling to Qingdao, China. Overall, 11 of 23 (47.8%) of the first batch of environmental surface samples (within 4 h after case confirmation) were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Whereas only 2 of 23 (8.7%) of the second batch of environmental samples (after first disinfection) were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The majority of samples from the bedroom (70%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2, followed by 50% of samples from the bathroom and that of 33% from the corridor. The inner walls of toilet bowl and sewer inlet were the most contaminated sites with the highest viral loads. SARS-CoV-2 was widely distributed on object surfaces in a quarantine room of a later diagnosed COVID-19 case during the incubation period. Proper disinfection is crucial to minimize community transmission of this highly contagious virus.

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
Incubation period
Environmental contamination
Disinfection

Cited by (0)

1

Contributed equally

View Abstract