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Swabbing the Urban Environment - A Pipeline for Sampling and Detection of SARS-CoV-2 From Environmental Reservoirs
Published on: April 9, 2021
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in schools using built environment testing in Ottawa, Canada: A multi-facility prospective
Nisha Thampi1,2, Tasha Burhunduli2, Jamie Strain2
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
Classroom and staffroom floor swabs across six elementary schools in Ottawa, Canada were tested for SARS-CoV-2. Environmental test positivity did not correlate with student grade groups, school-level absenteeism, pediatric COVID-19-related hospitalizations, or community SARS-CoV-2 wastewater levels. Schools in neighbourhoods with historically elevated COVID-19 burden showed a negative but non-significant association with lower swab positivity.
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