Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in public areas: An investigation of environmental surface contamination

• Published in: Erciyes Medical Journal Vol. 45; no. 2; pp. 203 - 206
• Main Authors: Kaynarca, Doruk, Korkmazhan, Toner, Oktay, Makbule Naz, Sanlidag, Tamer, Baddal, Buket
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Istanbul KARE Publishing 01.03.2023; Kare Publishing
• Subjects: COVID-19; Disease transmission; Environmental aspects; Health aspects; Health facilities; Humidity; Investigations; Keyboards; Methods; Pandemics; Public spaces; RNA; RNA polymerase; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Supermarkets; Cyprus; Italy; Turkey
• ISSN: 2149-2247; 2980-2156
• DOI: 10.14744/etd.2022.94468

Although droplets and aerosol are considered the main transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2, indirect contact has been indicated to play a critical role in transmission. The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on different environmental surfaces in public areas in Cyprus. Using RT-qPCR, samples from 50 swab specimens collected from hightouch surfaces were analyzed for viral RNA. Six surfaces (12.0%) in all were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Among the examined surfaces within supermarkets, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 22.2% (n=4/18) of the sampling points, with shopping trolley handles and POS keyboards being the most frequently contaminated items. In the hospital setting, two (n=2/5, 40%) samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Our results indicate that, at the current stage of the pandemic, viral contamination of public spaces exists in the community. Lifting protective measures may have contributed to fomite transmission in public spaces.