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The continuous downward trend of the SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the wastewater of the urban complex of Thessaloniki, reflects the weekly diagram of the evolution of the pandemic in the city, in the relevant research carried out by an interdisciplinary team of AUTh in collaboration with EYATH.
Rationalization of the last measurement, which was completed on Christmas Day, confirms that after a week, where the viral load had remained stable, the de-escalation from December 18 onwards continues at a faster pace.
The latest measures refer to sampling in wastewater, in days that include the partial opening of the market (click away, hairdressers, bookstores, etc.).
“The first samples are positive, which also take into account new data on mobility in the city, but we will have to wait for the next measurements to confirm them. In any case, however, reading the data does not allow complacency and laxity in compliance with the measures, the situation remains fragile, “the rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and scientific supervisor of the research project, Professor Nikos Papaioannou.
Asked if, through the methodology applied by AUTh’s interdisciplinary team, it is possible to detect the mutation of the “British” coronavirus, which is much more contagious, in wastewater, Mr. Papaioannou replied that “it is something that we have the opportunity to give answers and we are already investigating the process of setting up a scientifically precise methodology, the results of which, as well as all those that we have produced up to now, will be made available to the State ”.
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.
Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
