Surge in concentration of Covid genetic material in Limassol wastewater

The concentration of genetic fragments of coronavirus in Limassol’s urban wastewater has recorded a steady increase over the past few months, a scientific study found.

The study, carried out by the Nireas-International Water Research Center of the University of Cyprus in cooperation with the Limassol-Amathus Sewerage Board (SALA), which has been ongoing since last December, aims to study the genetic presence of SARS-CoV-2 in Limassol’s wastewater, in hope that results could form a tool for the credible and timely prediction of the spread of coronavirus among the community.

A SALA announcement issued Tuesday said results of the scientific study found that fragments of two genomes of the virus were detected in urban wastewater collected from the broader Limassol area during the months of January and February 2021. There is a statistically significant increase of the virus’ genetic fragment concentration, which reached a high point on the last day of February, it noted.

These results are corroborated by the extent of the virus’ spread during this particular period, the announcement added.
 
The cooperation between SALA and the Research Center aims at developing an observatory/epidemiological surveillance system in the area that may respond to various health emergencies, including but not limited to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.