Spanish scientists have found traces of the coronavirus in sewage samples dating back to March 2019, suggesting that the new virus that triggered the current pandemic emerged from China much earlier than the Chinese Community Party previously admitted.
According to Reuters, the University of Barcelona revealed on Friday that scientists discovered parts of the COVID-19 genome in wastewater samples collected in Barcelona in March 2019.
After the COVID-19 outbreak reached Europe, university scientists began conducting research on the wastewater to identify possible new outbreaks. They also decided to analyze old water samples, those collected between January 2018 and December 2019. Only a sample from March 2019 tested positive for COVID-19.
“SARS-CoV-2 levels were low but positive,” said research leader Albert Bosch, Reuters reported.
In an interview with the New York Times, Bosch explained: “Barcelona is a city frequented by Chinese, in tourism and business, so this probably happened elsewhere, and probably at the same time.”
Regarding the virus that was found in a single sample from March 2019, Bosch said it makes sense because “respiratory viruses generally peak at this time of year.”
Dr. Joan Ramon Villalbi, from the Spanish Society of Public Health and Health Administration, told Reuters that the research is “definitely interesting, it’s suggestive.”
Italian scientists have also said they found COVID-19 genetic material present in the wastewater months before the virus made northern Italy the global access point for COVID-19.
China claims they only became aware of the virus in late December 2019.
.
