Surveillance of SARS-cov2 in both wastewater and in patients as well as serology for increased understanding of the spread of the infection and developed immunity

SARS-CoV-2 has surprised the world and since the end of 2019 has spread rapidly across all continents. It still causes many serious illnesses and deaths. Much research has been done to understand and overcome this virus, but many questions remain unanswered about its spread and immune response to it. For Sweden, the Swedish Public Health Agency has predicted that even if the infection has calmed down over the summer, there will probably be a second wave in the autumn of 2020. There is an urgent need to monitor the spread as objectively and quickly as possible. Since the spring of 2020, our research group has followed the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Gothenburg every week and found that the increased amount of virus in wastewater reflected an increased number of patients with covid-19 who required hospital care three weeks later. We found three major waves of increased viral load until July, after which we have not been able to continue the study as research funds are lacking for further studies. The connection we found indicates that the societal spread of the virus is reflected in the wastewater. The continuation of the study will show whether a new wave of infection this autumn can be identified by the increased amount of virus in the wastewater and the infectivity of these viruses. We also want to investigate factors that affect the excretion of viruses in faeces, such as the development of the immune response and whether temperature, precipitation and humidity affect the viability of viruses. This study can form the basis for faster knowledge acquisition and preparedness for new virus outbreaks. The connection we found indicates that the societal spread of the virus is reflected in the wastewater. The continuation of the study will show whether a new wave of infection this autumn can be identified by the increased amount of virus in the wastewater and the infectivity of these viruses. We also want to investigate factors that affect the excretion of viruses in faeces, such as the development of the immune response and whether temperature, precipitation and humidity affect the viability of viruses. This study can form the basis for faster knowledge acquisition and preparedness for new virus outbreaks. The connection we found indicates that the societal spread of the virus is reflected in the wastewater. The continuation of the study will show whether a new wave of infection this autumn can be identified by the increased amount of virus in the wastewater and the infectivity of these viruses. We also want to investigate factors that affect the excretion of viruses in faeces, such as the development of the immune response and whether temperature, precipitation and humidity affect the viability of viruses. This study can form the basis for faster knowledge acquisition and preparedness for new virus outbreaks. precipitation and humidity affect the viability of viruses. This study can form the basis for faster knowledge acquisition and preparedness for new virus outbreaks. precipitation and humidity affect the viability of viruses. This study can form the basis for faster knowledge acquisition and preparedness for new virus outbreaks.