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The concentration of the SARS-CoV-2 genome in wastewater from the urban complex of Thessaloniki is also recorded this week, as measured by the interdisciplinary team at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in collaboration with EYATH.
Based on the streamlining of the analyzes, which was completed this morning, on the last samples taken at the entrance to the Thessaloniki Wastewater Treatment Plant (EELTH), the viral load of the wastewater this week compared to the above shows a 50% increase. This increase is significantly less than the corresponding increase between the previous two weeks, which was of the order of 150%.
“It is a clear improvement over the previous weeks, but we are still talking about an increase. The data captures the image that every resident of Thessaloniki now perceives, the image of the city’s hospitals, the image we all now know of someone who is sick, who is being treated, who lost his life in the battle against the virus. It is the image of the great spread of the virus in the community, “the rector of AUTh and coordinator of the research project, Prof. Nikos Papaioannou. 
When asked if the epidemiological analysis of wastewater shows that the restrictive measures that have been taken – and gradually tightened – in Thessaloniki, have started to work, the rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki replied: The wastewater of Thessaloniki showed an exponential increase since October 12, 2020. On October 29, we announced that we were measuring viral load at ten times the values. This epidemiological picture was also confirmed by cases, imports, intubation, deaths. It is not an image that can be changed overnight. “
“Towards stabilization in a week”
On the prospect of improving the epidemiological outlook in Thessaloniki, Mr Papaioannou explained: “The fact that we are now measuring much smoother growth rates is a fact that allows us to estimate that, if we strictly follow the measurements, in about a week we will stabilize, we will see the beginning of the leveling of the so-called epidemiological curve and continue to observe the measures that we will see after its downward course. The measures obviously bear fruit, but we still have a long way to go. That is why we stay at home , we avoid unnecessary travel, we keep our distance, we wear a mask everywhere. There is not the slightest room for relaxation and irresponsible behavior. The situation concerns us all, it touches us all. “
Meanwhile, on the EYATH side, planning for spatial reconnaissance of wastewater is at an advanced stage, with the installation of samplers at different points in the city’s sewage network, in order to more specifically identify what areas of the urban complex have the most intense epidemiological burden. . 
“We have reached where we want to measure, in 4 or 5 areas that can be demarcated. The structure of our sewerage network, which has to do with catchments, the way in which the sewerage network has been designed and built, does not facilitate demarcation, so for example each municipality knows what is happening strictly within their own limits. However, there is a better demarcation as far as the east of Thessaloniki ”, said to APE-MPE the president of EYATH, professor of Mechanical Engineering of AUTh, Agis Papadopoulos, explaining that the question is where the samplers will be placed, to guarantee the reliability. of measurements and precision of spatial analysis.
The coronavirus evaluation methodology in municipal waste, developed by the AUTh team, streamlines 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, Space Engineering and Development of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Source: AMPE
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