Use of Sewage Surveillance for COVID-19: A Large-Scale Evidence-Based Program in Hong Kong.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sewage surveillance, by detecting SARS-CoV-2 virus circulation at the community level, has the potential to supplement individual surveillance for COVID-19. However, to date, there have been no reports about the large-scale implementation and validation of sewage surveillance for public health action.

Objective

Here, we developed a standardized approach for SARS-CoV-2 detection in sewage and applied it prospectively to supplement public health interventions.

Methods

We analyzed 1,169 sewage samples collected at 492 sites from December 2020 to March 2021. Forty-seven of 492 sites tested positive, 44 (94%) of them had traceable sources of viral signals in the corresponding sewershed, either from previously unsuspected but subsequently confirmed patients or re

SUBMITTER: Deng Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9097955 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature