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Updated: Dec 14, 2025

Determining Viral Disinfection Efficacy of Hot Water Laundering
Published on: June 21, 2022
Coronavirus disease and basic sanitation: too early to be worried?
Renata Rocha da Silva1, Márcio Bezerra Dos Santos2, Allan Dantas Dos Santos3
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brasil.
Introduction:
Considering that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been detected in feces, this study aimed to verify a possible relationship between basic sanitation indices and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) numbers/rates.
Methods:
Data of COVID-19 cases registered in Brazil until May 28, 2020, and independent variables associated with basic sanitation were analyzed.
Results:
A significant correlation between the number of cases and sewage treatment index/population density was observed. In addition, COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates were significantly associated with the total water service index and lethality rate was significantly associated with the sewage treatment index.
Conclusions:
Precarious basic sanitation infrastructure may potentially increase the SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Brazil.
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