ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, Porto, Portugal.
Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIunit), Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Virol J. 2023 Nov 24;20(1):275. doi: 10.1186/s12985-023-02243-4.
This study investigates the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor and outdoor environments in two cities in Norway between April and May 2022. With the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in the country and a focus on vaccination, this research aims to shed light on the potential for virus transmission in various settings. Air sampling was conducted in healthcare and non-healthcare facilities, covering locations frequented by individuals across different age groups. The study found that out of 31 air samples, only four showed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-qPCR, with no viable virus detected after RNAse pre-treatment. These positive samples were primarily associated with environments involving children and the elderly. Notably, sequencing revealed mutations associated with increased infectivity in one of the samples. The results highlight the importance of considering children as potential sources of virus transmission, especially in settings with prolonged indoor exposure. As vaccination coverage increases globally, and with children still representing a substantial unvaccinated population, the study emphasizes the need to re-implement mask-wearing mandates indoors and in public transport to reduce virus transmission. The findings have implications for public health strategies to control COVID-19, particularly in the face of new variants and the potential for increased transmission during the autumn and winter seasons.
本研究调查了 2022 年 4 月至 5 月期间挪威两个城市的室内和室外环境中 SARS-CoV-2 的存在情况。随着该国 COVID-19 限制的解除和对疫苗接种的关注,这项研究旨在阐明在各种环境中病毒传播的潜力。在医疗和非医疗设施中进行了空气采样,涵盖了不同年龄组人群经常光顾的地点。研究发现,在 31 个空气样本中,只有 4 个通过 RT-qPCR 显示存在 SARS-CoV-2 RNA,经过 RNAse 预处理后未检测到有活力的病毒。这些阳性样本主要与涉及儿童和老年人的环境有关。值得注意的是,测序显示其中一个样本中存在与感染性增加相关的突变。研究结果强调了将儿童视为病毒传播潜在来源的重要性,尤其是在室内暴露时间较长的情况下。随着全球疫苗接种覆盖率的提高,以及儿童仍然是未接种疫苗的主要人群,研究强调需要重新在室内和公共交通工具中实施口罩佩戴规定,以减少病毒传播。这些发现对控制 COVID-19 的公共卫生策略具有影响,特别是在面临新变体和秋冬季节传播增加的情况下。