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Coronavirus: The rate of decrease in the concentration of the SARS-CoV-2 genome in municipal waste from the urban complex of Thessaloniki showed a significant slowdown last week, according to research carried out by an interdisciplinary team from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in collaboration with EYATH.
The multidimensional environmental rationalization of measurements, completed today for the samples taken of the sewer system on November 25, 27 and 30, shows that in relation to the corresponding calculation, carried out last Wednesday, the viral load is still at high levels, but in addition, the momentum for a rapid improvement in the epidemiological panorama of the city has stopped.
“We are concerned about the findings. The viral load reduction rate is significantly lower, from the moment a de-escalation began, which was first registered in the analysis of samples on November 18 and continued in the following days. with reduction rates of up to 50%. In recent days it seems that we are tending more to a stabilization than to a clear improvement of the image ”, declared to APE-MPE the rector of AUTh and head of the research project, Prof. Nikos Papaioannou.
Asked about how these findings are interpreted, the rector explained that de-escalation is slow, precisely because the viral load is very high, which means that the dispersion in the community is great, the cases are still many and the measures need more time to bear fruit.
“Without a doubt, the wastewater panorama shows that it is premature to discuss any lifting of the restrictive measures in the coming days and it is extremely dangerous to have the slightest relaxation in terms of citizens’ compliance with the measures. I would say that we are currently at a tipping point that will judge how the situation will develop in the city, How many more human losses will we count? how much pressure will be placed on the health system, how much the socio-economic effects of the pandemic will increase ”, emphasized Mr. Papaioannou, noting the criticality of the situation.
“We all need to understand that we are at a point where things can go well and little by little we can recover our life, but they can also go very badly, get out of control, if we consider that the difficult times are over and we are complacent. It is reasonable to have fatigue in society, but any deviation from strict compliance with the measures, “Only its extension and tightening can contribute,” he clarified.
The coronavirus assessment methodology in municipal waste, Developed by the AUTh team, it rationalizes the concentration measurements of the virus genome based on 24 environmental factors, which can alter the measurement results. The research involves professors from 11 different laboratories from the Departments of Medicine, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Biology, Civil Engineering, Spatial Planning and Development Engineering.
Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
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