ABSTRACT
Background To detect the contamination of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the surroundings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and to evaluate the effectiveness of regular disinfectants and combinations against SARS-CoV-2 RNA.Methods We sampled the patients’ high contact surfaces in COVID-19 pediatric quarantine wards from April to June 2022. After conducting cleaning procedures using disinfectants, including trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA; 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/L), 5% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), 0.5% povidone-iodine (PI), 75% ethanol (EA), 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), 0.2% quaternary ammonia compound (QAC), and five combinations, environmental samples in bathroom were collected at 0, 30 s, 10, 30, and 60 min. All samples were delivered to the medical laboratory for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid (ORF1ab and N) detection using real-time PCR.Results SARS-CoV-2 RNA was largely detected on surfaces in the COVID-19 quarantine ward and was highest in the floor, bathroom, and bed sheet. The ORF1ab and N genes remained detectable after 60 min of treatment with QAC, PI, EA, and CHG. H2O2 and TCCA2000 completely degraded SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 30 s, which was faster than TCCA1000 (10 min). Clearance of ORF1ab and N by TCCA500 required 10 and 60 min, respectively, whereas combination of TCCA500 with EA or PI destroyed ORF1ab and N faster at 30 s and 30 min, respectively.Conclusion The surroundings of patients with COVID-19 are contaminated by SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Effectiveness of disinfectants and combinations varies, N gene persists longer time than ORF1ab after some disinfection.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Coronavirus InfectionsABSTRACT
At the end of 2019, the COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China. It has since put global public health institutions on high alert. People in China reduced their traveling, and production has stopped nationwide during the height of the epidemic. This study explores the effects of these COVID-19-derived changes on air quality in China. Air quality data of 367 cities around China were analyzed. The daily air quality index and air pollutant concentrations (CO, O3, NO2, SO2, PM10, and PM2.5) were collected and compared the epidemic period (23.1.2020-23.3.2020) with the preceding two months (22.11.2019-22.1.2020) and the parallel period the year before (23.1.2019-23.3.2019).To compare, we calculated the daily average number of cities with pollution, and the trend in air quality index change. The air quality in the 50 cities with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and Wuhan was also analyzed. During the period between 23.1.2020 and 23.3.2020, the number of cities with excellent air quality was significantly higher than that in the other two periods. The concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and O3 decreased significantly during this period. The most significant decreases were in PM10 and NO2. The number of cities with good air quality in the later period was significantly higher than a year before. The air quality has improved significantly during the COVID-19 outbreak. The reason for this change might be changes in human activities such as reduced transportation and production stoppage.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
To explore the value of simultaneous detection of multiple viruses in epidemic prevention and control of COVID-19. To analyze respiratory virus infection of 114 suspected COVID-19 patients, real-time RT-PCR was used to detect SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid. At the same time, the thermostatic amplification was used to detect other 18 respiratory virus. As results, the nucleic acid of 114 suspected COVID-19 patients was negative, and 21 of them were infected with non-other respiratory viruses, with an infection rate of 18.42%. A total of 10 respiratory viruses were detected in 21 cases, including coronavirus NL63/229E, respiratory syncytial virus, human coxsackie virus A16, influenza B virus, human parainfluenza virus type 1, human parainfluenza virus type 3, human metapneumovirus, influenza A virus, seasonal influenza a virus subtype H3, and enterovirus/rhinovirus. There were 6 cases of influenza B virus infection and 5 cases of respiratory syncytial virus. Three patients were co-infected with two viruses: respiratory syncytial virus mixed with coxsackie virus A16, coronavirus NL63/229E mixed with human parainfluenza virus 1, and influenza A virus mixed with influenza A virus seasonal H3 subtype. In conclusion, in response to the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, attention should be paid to the identification of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses in suspected COVID-19 patients, so as to effectively exclude suspected cases.