Potential environmental transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 inside a large meat processing plant experiencing COVID-19 clusters
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Abstract
Worldwide exceptionally many COVID-19 clusters were observed in meat processing plants. Many contributing factors, promoting transmission, were suggested, including climate conditions in cooled production rooms favorable for environmental transmission but actual sampling studies are lacking. We aimed to assess SARS-CoV-2 contamination of air and surfaces to gain insight in potential environmental transmission in a large Dutch meat processing plant experiencing COVID-19 clusters.
We performed SARS-CoV-2 screening of workers operating in cooled production rooms and intensive environmental sampling during a two-week study period in June 2020. Sampling of air (both stationary and personal), settling dust, ventilation systems, and sewage was performed. Swabs were collected from high-touch surfaces and workers’ hands. Screening of workers was done using oronasopharyngeal swabs. Samples were tested for presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-qPCR.
Of the 76 (predominantly asymptomatic) workers tested, 27 (35.5%) were SARS-CoV-2 RNA positive with modest to low viral loads (Ct≥29.7). In total, 6 out of 203 surface swabs were positive (Ct ≥38), being swabs taken from communal touchscreens/handles. One of the 12 personal air samples and one of the 4 sewage samples were positive, RNA levels were low (Ct≥38). All other environmental samples tested negative.
Although one-third of workers tested SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive, environmental contamination was limited. Hence widespread transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via air and surfaces was considered unlikely within this plant at the time of investigation in the context of strict COVID-19 control measures in place.
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SciScore for 10.1101/2021.06.20.21259212: (What is this?)
Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.
Table 1: Rigor
Ethics Consent: Workers participated on a voluntary basis, informed consents were obtained.
Field Sample Permit: Field blanks of all sample types were collected as a control, these blanks underwent all procedures (e.g. preparations, transportation, processing) as the actual samples except for sampling.Sex as a biological variable not detected. Randomization Screening for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR status amongst a random selection of voluntarily participating abattoir workers on May 29th, showed a prevalence that was especially high among workers operating in cooled production rooms: 41% in the cutting room (9/22), 32% in the deboning room (6/19) and 16% in the packaging area (3/19) versus 0% (0/45) in other … SciScore for 10.1101/2021.06.20.21259212: (What is this?)
Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.
Table 1: Rigor
Ethics Consent: Workers participated on a voluntary basis, informed consents were obtained.
Field Sample Permit: Field blanks of all sample types were collected as a control, these blanks underwent all procedures (e.g. preparations, transportation, processing) as the actual samples except for sampling.Sex as a biological variable not detected. Randomization Screening for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR status amongst a random selection of voluntarily participating abattoir workers on May 29th, showed a prevalence that was especially high among workers operating in cooled production rooms: 41% in the cutting room (9/22), 32% in the deboning room (6/19) and 16% in the packaging area (3/19) versus 0% (0/45) in other sections. Blinding not detected. Power Analysis not detected. Table 2: Resources
No key resources detected.
Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).
Results from LimitationRecognizer: An explicit section about the limitations of the techniques employed in this study was not found. We encourage authors to address study limitations.Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.
Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.
Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.
Results from rtransparent:- Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
- Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
- No protocol registration statement was detected.
Results from scite Reference Check: We found no unreliable references.
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