Lack of SARS-CoV-2 in environmental samples collected from September 2020-February 2021 in a university that followed CDC reopening guidance

Hongwan Li; Sripriya Nannu Shankar; Chiran T. Witanachchi; John A. Lednicky; Julia C. Loeb; Md. Mahbubul Alam; Z. Hugh Fan; Michael Lauzardo; Karim Mohamed; Arantzazu Eiguren-Fernandez; Chang-Yu Wu

Hygiene and Environmental Health Advances (Sep 2023)

Lack of SARS-CoV-2 in environmental samples collected from September 2020-February 2021 in a university that followed CDC reopening guidance

Hongwan Li,
Sripriya Nannu Shankar,
Chiran T. Witanachchi,
John A. Lednicky,
Julia C. Loeb,
Md. Mahbubul Alam,
Z. Hugh Fan,
Michael Lauzardo,
Karim Mohamed,
Arantzazu Eiguren-Fernandez,
Chang-Yu Wu

Affiliations

Hongwan Li: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, USA; Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, USA; Corresponding author: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Hudson College of Public Health, 801 Northeast 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
Sripriya Nannu Shankar: Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, USA
Chiran T. Witanachchi: Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, USA
John A. Lednicky: Department of Environmental and Global Health, University of Florida, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, USA
Julia C. Loeb: Department of Environmental and Global Health, University of Florida, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, USA
Md. Mahbubul Alam: Department of Environmental and Global Health, University of Florida, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, USA
Z. Hugh Fan: Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, USA; J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, USA
Michael Lauzardo: Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Florida, USA
Karim Mohamed: J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, USA
Arantzazu Eiguren-Fernandez: Aerosol Dynamics Inc., Berkeley, California, USA
Chang-Yu Wu: Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, USA; Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7
p. 100061

Abstract

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This study aimed to provide environmental surveillance data for evaluating the risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 in public areas with high foot traffic in a university. Air and surface samples were collected at a university that had the second highest number of COVID-19 cases among public higher education institutions in the U.S. during Fall 2020. A total of 60 samples were collected in 16 sampling events performed during Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. Nearly 9800 students traversed the sites during the study period. SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in any air or surface samples. The university followed CDC guidance, including COVID-19 testing, case investigations, and contact tracing. Students, faculty, and staff were asked to maintain physical distancing and wear face coverings. Although COVID-19 cases were relatively high at the university, the possibility of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infections at the sites tested was low.

Published in Hygiene and Environmental Health Advances

ISSN: 2773-0492 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Public aspects of medicine; Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/hygiene-and-environmental-health-advances

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