• Hui Lei, Feng Ye, Xiaoqing Liu, Zhenting Huang, Shiman Ling, Zhanpeng Jiang, Jing Cheng, Xiaoqun Huang, Qiubao Wu, Shiguan Wu, Yanmin Xie, Cheng Xiao, Dan Ye, Zifeng Yang, Yimin Li, Nancy H L Leung, Benjamin J Cowling, Jianxing He, Sook-San Wong, and Mark Zanin.
• Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
• Influenza Other Respi Viruses. 2020 Nov 1; 14 (6): 688-699.

BackgroundSevere COVID-19 patients typically test positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA for extended periods of time, even after recovery from severe disease. Due to the timeframe involved, these patients may have developed humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 while still testing positive for viral RNA in swabs. Data are lacking on exposure risks in these situations. Here, we studied SARS-CoV-2 environmental contamination in an ICU and an isolation ward caring for such COVID-19 patients.MethodsWe collected air and surface samples in a hospital caring for critical and severe COVID-19 cases from common areas and areas proximal to patients.ResultsOf the 218 ICU samples, an air sample contained SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Of the 182 isolation ward samples, nine contained SARS-CoV-2 RNA. These were collected from a facemask, the floor, mobile phones, and the air in the patient room and bathroom. Serum antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detected in these patients at the beginning of the study.ConclusionsWhile there is a perception of increased risk in the ICU, our study demonstrates that isolation wards may pose greater risks to healthcare workers and exposure risks remain with clinically improved patients, weeks after their initial diagnoses. As these patients had serum antibodies, further studies may be warranted to study the utility of serum antibodies as a surrogate of viral clearance in allowing people to return to work. We recommend continued vigilance even with patients who appear to have recovered from COVID-19.© 2020 The Authors. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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