Studies: COVID-19 virus can spread through feces, surfaces contaminated by presymptomatic patients
Infectious virus in feces is a common manifestation of COVID-19, according to a from China published today in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention鈥檚 Emerging Infectious Diseases journal.
鈥淥ur findings indicate the need for appropriate precautions to avoid potential transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from feces,鈥 the authors said. 鈥淒ischarge and hospital cleaning practices should consider this possibility for critically ill patients or those who died who had high viral loads and are more likely to shed infectious virus.鈥
Another from China published in the journal investigated environmental contamination in two rooms of a quarantine hotel after two presymptomatic students who stayed there were laboratory-confirmed as having coronavirus disease.
鈥淲e detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA on eight (36%) of 22 surfaces, as well as on the pillow cover, sheet, and duvet cover,鈥 demonstrating that presymptomatic patients can easily contaminate environments, the authors said. 鈥淥ur data also reaffirm the potential role of surface contamination in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the importance of strict surface hygiene practices, including regarding linens of SARS-CoV-2 patients,鈥 they said.
In other COVID-19 news, CDC released:
- an providing a case definition for a recently reported multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with COVID-19; and
- a of its initiatives to support COVID-19 response and the president鈥檚 plan to reopen America.