Increase in Covid-19 genetic material detected in wastewater

An increase in the genetic material of the new coronavirus was recorded in the analysis of urban wastewater of the Sewerage Board of Limassol-Amathus (SBLA) which was done in collaboration with the International Water Research Center "NIREAS" of the University of Cyprus. The aim of the cooperation is to develop a reliable early warning system regarding the degree of the Covid-19 spread.

The SBLA has announced that the first time that the analysis of the genetic material of the virus gave a positive result was in the first ten days of October, noting that the latest samples analysed by the University of Cyprus were in mid-November, for ten consecutive days, and showed an increase compared to the samples taken in October.
 
The cooperation between SBLA and the University of Cyprus provides for the systematic analysis and monitoring of the genetic material of the virus in the wastewater of Limassol, for the next four months.

The press release says that the ultimate goal is to develop a reliable early warning system for the extent of the spread of Covid-19, a tool for detecting the silent spread of the virus, both from symptomatic and asymptomatic people, since it has already been shown that fragments of the virus are secreted by the human body that was infected with the virus.