The Importance of SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Wastewater

Coronaviruses cause diseases such as the Middle East respiratory syndrome and acute respiratory syndrome. SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 and ongoing pandemic, was first identified in Wuhan, China. SARS-CoV-2 mainly infects the respiratory tract leading to infect other organs. Gastrointestinal symptom, for instance, have been widely reported in patients with COVID-19. In fact, numerous investigations have shown that SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in feces and this may be associated with the risk of viral transmission. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in human feces and transmission in the sewage system is a public health concern. Therefore, wastewater-based epidemiology can play a critical role in the early detection of COVID-19 outbreaks in rural and urban areas. Compared to conventional viral detection methods, it has been suggested that SARS-CoV-2 can be rapidly detected in sewage even one week before observing the symptom in a population. In this study, we first focus on the importance of sewage system monitoring and screening to control the COVID-19 pandemic and the required protocols and factors to remove and to disinfect wastewater from the virus to provide safe water recycling and environmental health protection.