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Updated: Oct 31, 2025

Quantification and Whole Genome Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater and Air Samples
Published on: June 30, 2023
Detection of Environmental Spread of SARS-CoV-2 and Associated Patient Characteristics
Charles T Semelka1, David A Ornelles2, Nathaniel S O'Connell3
1Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Abstract:
Understanding transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 informs infection prevention practices. Air sampling devices were placed in patient hospital rooms for consecutive collections with and without masks. With patient mask use, no virus was detected in the room. High viral load and fewer days from symptom onset were associated with viral particulate dispersion.
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