The ISS study examined collected 40 sewage samples from wastewater treatment plants in northern Italy between last October and February. The samples from October and November came back negative, suggesting that the virus was not yet present.
Giuseppina La Rosa who led research from the study explained “Traces of SARS-Cov-2 have been found in samples of wastewater taken in Milan and Turin on Dec. 18 and in Bologna on Jan. 29.” She went on to state, “More traces were detected in other test samples through January and February.” The results of this test are consistent with other tests worldwide including in Barcelona.
Sources:
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità “CS N°39/2020 – Studio ISS su acque di scarico, a Milano e Torino Sars-Cov-2 presente già a dicembre”
- Main Image: Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
