SARS-CoV-2 variants detected in wastewater samples

Using genomic analysis in samples taken from wastewater treatment plants in Switzerland revealed the presence of the novel SARS-CoV-2 variants two weeks before its first verification in a patient sample. The study which was published on the pre-print server medRxiv was co-led by Niko Beerenwinkel together with colleagues from ETH Lausanne and Eawag. They conclude that this method may help detect and monitor the circulation of new SARS-CoV-2 variants in the human population.