AUTHOR=Yang Jinyan , Sun Dan , Xia Tingting , Shi Shi , Suo Jijiang , Kuang Huihui , Sun Nana , Hu Hongyan , Zheng Zhecheng , Zhou Yang , Li Xiaocui , Chen Shaojuan , Huang Haiqiang , Yan Zhongqiang 

TITLE=Monitoring Prevalence and Persistence of Environmental Contamination by SARS-CoV-2 RNA in a Makeshift Hospital for Asymptomatic and Very Mild COVID-19 Patients

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=68

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2023.1605994

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2023.1605994

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> To investigate the details of environmental contamination status by SARS-CoV-2 in a makeshift COVID-19 hospital.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Environmental samples were collected from a makeshift hospital. The extent of contamination was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for SARS-CoV-2 RNA from various samples.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> There was a wide range of total collected samples contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 RNA, ranging from 8.47% to 100%. Results revealed that 70.00% of sewage from the bathroom and 48.19% of air samples were positive. The highest rate of contamination was found from the no-touch surfaces (73.07%) and the lowest from frequently touched surfaces (33.40%). The most contaminated objects were the top surfaces of patient cubic partitions (100%). The median Ct values among strongly positive samples were 33.38 (IQR, 31.69–35.07) and 33.24 (IQR, 31.33–34.34) for ORF1ab and N genes, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 relic RNA can be detected on indoor surfaces for up to 20 days.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> The findings show a higher prevalence and persistence in detecting the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the makeshift COVID-19 hospital setting. The contamination mode of droplet deposition may be more common than contaminated touches.</p>