COVID-19. Concentrations of coronavirus in the Gothenburg wastewater are varying but remain high, despite a certain downturn in the latest weekly measurements from the University of Gothenburg.
The fourth pandemic wave picked up momentum in mid-December and shows no sign of slackening. Although there has been a decline since the peak in mid-January, SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater of Gothenburg is still found in concentrations that are high, viewed over time and compared with levels when the three previous waves of the pandemic peaked.
The results from the latest measurements, based on samples taken in the week of March 14–20, indicate a small downturn.
Persistent high levels
Photo: Elin Lindström
”SARS-CoV-2 continues to fluctuate at high levels. A lot of people are infected, and the dominant kind seems to be the omicron variant BA.2, which makes up roughly two-thirds of the total,” says Heléne Norder, adjunct professor at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and microbiologist at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
The surveys of SARS-CoV-2 in the Gothenburg wastewater have been in progress since February 2020. The research group reports its results to care providers and the Infection Control Unit in Region Västra Götaland.
Disease incidence reflected
The rise in the presence of coronavirus in the wastewater reflects the COVID-19 incidence trend in the community. On the other hand, the connection between high virus concentrations in the wastewater and peak pressures on health care has been successively obscures as the strength of the protection afforded by vaccinations has grown.
Besides SARS-CoV-2, concentrations of norovirus GG2 (the “winter vomiting bug”) in the wastewater are also measured. The level of this virus is now at a record high for the year to date — as expected, since norovirus usually peaks in the 11th week of the year, around mid-March.
BY: MARGARETA GUSTAFSSON KUBISTA
