Environmental Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Two Restaurants from a Mid-scale City that Followed U.S. CDC Reopening Guidance
Abstract Since mask use and physical distancing are difficult to maintain when people dine indoors, restaurants are perceived as high risk for acquiring COVID-19. The air and selected environmental surfaces in two restaurants in a mid-scale city located in north central Florida that followed the Cen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210304 |
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| author | Hongwan Li Sripriya Nannu Shankar Chiran T. Witanachchi John A. Lednicky Julia C. Loeb Md. Mahbubul Alam Z. Hugh Fan Karim Mohamed Jessica A. Boyette Arantzazu Eiguren-Fernandez Chang-Yu Wu |
| author_facet | Hongwan Li Sripriya Nannu Shankar Chiran T. Witanachchi John A. Lednicky Julia C. Loeb Md. Mahbubul Alam Z. Hugh Fan Karim Mohamed Jessica A. Boyette Arantzazu Eiguren-Fernandez Chang-Yu Wu |
| author_sort | Hongwan Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Since mask use and physical distancing are difficult to maintain when people dine indoors, restaurants are perceived as high risk for acquiring COVID-19. The air and selected environmental surfaces in two restaurants in a mid-scale city located in north central Florida that followed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reopening guidance were sampled three times from July 2020 to February 2021. Sixteen air samples were collected for 2 hours using air samplers, and 20 surface samples by using moistened swabs. The samples were analyzed by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA. A total of ~550 patrons dined in the restaurants during our samplings. SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA was not detected in any of the air samples. One of the 20 surface samples (5%) was positive. That sample had been collected from a plastic tablecloth immediately after guests left the restaurant. Virus was not isolated in cell cultures inoculated with aliquots of the RT-PCR-positive sample. The likelihood that patrons and staff acquire SARS-CoV-2 infections may be low in restaurants in a mid-scale city that adopt CDC restaurant reopening guidance, such as operation at 50% capacity so that tables can be spaced at least 6 feet apart, establishment of adequate mechanical ventilation, use of a face covering except while eating or drinking, and implementation of disinfection measures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cbdcd423368a473cb8b22d074d88d755 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-cbdcd423368a473cb8b22d074d88d7552025-02-09T12:17:48ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092021-12-0122111310.4209/aaqr.210304Environmental Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Two Restaurants from a Mid-scale City that Followed U.S. CDC Reopening GuidanceHongwan Li0Sripriya Nannu Shankar1Chiran T. Witanachchi2John A. Lednicky3Julia C. Loeb4Md. Mahbubul Alam5Z. Hugh Fan6Karim Mohamed7Jessica A. Boyette8Arantzazu Eiguren-Fernandez9Chang-Yu Wu10Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of FloridaDepartment of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of FloridaDepartment of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of FloridaDepartment of Environmental and Global Health, University of FloridaDepartment of Environmental and Global Health, University of FloridaDepartment of Environmental and Global Health, University of FloridaDepartment of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of FloridaJ. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of FloridaDepartment of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of FloridaAerosol Dynamics Inc.Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of FloridaAbstract Since mask use and physical distancing are difficult to maintain when people dine indoors, restaurants are perceived as high risk for acquiring COVID-19. The air and selected environmental surfaces in two restaurants in a mid-scale city located in north central Florida that followed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reopening guidance were sampled three times from July 2020 to February 2021. Sixteen air samples were collected for 2 hours using air samplers, and 20 surface samples by using moistened swabs. The samples were analyzed by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA. A total of ~550 patrons dined in the restaurants during our samplings. SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA was not detected in any of the air samples. One of the 20 surface samples (5%) was positive. That sample had been collected from a plastic tablecloth immediately after guests left the restaurant. Virus was not isolated in cell cultures inoculated with aliquots of the RT-PCR-positive sample. The likelihood that patrons and staff acquire SARS-CoV-2 infections may be low in restaurants in a mid-scale city that adopt CDC restaurant reopening guidance, such as operation at 50% capacity so that tables can be spaced at least 6 feet apart, establishment of adequate mechanical ventilation, use of a face covering except while eating or drinking, and implementation of disinfection measures.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210304COVID-19Air samplingSurfaceHospitalityInfection risk |
| spellingShingle | Hongwan Li Sripriya Nannu Shankar Chiran T. Witanachchi John A. Lednicky Julia C. Loeb Md. Mahbubul Alam Z. Hugh Fan Karim Mohamed Jessica A. Boyette Arantzazu Eiguren-Fernandez Chang-Yu Wu Environmental Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Two Restaurants from a Mid-scale City that Followed U.S. CDC Reopening Guidance Aerosol and Air Quality Research COVID-19 Air sampling Surface Hospitality Infection risk |
| title | Environmental Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Two Restaurants from a Mid-scale City that Followed U.S. CDC Reopening Guidance |
| title_full | Environmental Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Two Restaurants from a Mid-scale City that Followed U.S. CDC Reopening Guidance |
| title_fullStr | Environmental Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Two Restaurants from a Mid-scale City that Followed U.S. CDC Reopening Guidance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Two Restaurants from a Mid-scale City that Followed U.S. CDC Reopening Guidance |
| title_short | Environmental Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Two Restaurants from a Mid-scale City that Followed U.S. CDC Reopening Guidance |
| title_sort | environmental surveillance for sars cov 2 in two restaurants from a mid scale city that followed u s cdc reopening guidance |
| topic | COVID-19 Air sampling Surface Hospitality Infection risk |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210304 |
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