Post-lockdown detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the wastewater of Montpellier, France

[Mary Wilson]

One Health

Volume 10, December 2020, 100157

JulieTrottier^aRegisDarques^aNassimAit Mouheb^bcEmmaPartiot^bdWilliamBakhache^dMaika S.Deffieu^bdRaphaelGaudin^bd

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2020.100157

Abstract

The evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic can be monitored through the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage. Here, we measured the amount of SARS-CoV-2 RNA at the inflow point of the main waste water treatment plant (WWTP) of Montpellier, France. We collected samples 4 days before the end of lockdown and up to 70 days post-lockdown. We detected increased amounts of SARS-CoV-2 RNA at the WWTP from mid-June on, whereas the number of new COVID-19 cases in the area started increasing a couple of weeks later. Future epidemiologic investigations shall explain such asynchronous finding.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771420302585?via%3Dihub