“Transmission of the virus by respiratory and extrarespiratory routes may help explain the rapid spread of disease”
As part of the China Centres for Disease Control and Prevention study, clinical specimens were tested for SARS-CoV-2. 29% of patient faeces tested positive for the virus. The research letter includes a useful graph demonstrating shedding patterns of COVID-19 positive patients. Viral shedding through feces means healthcare providers must be especially cautious in handling human waste, and endure that this cannot be a route for cross-contamination across the centre. Click here for the full article.
Wang, Wenling; Xu, Yanli; Gao, Ruqin; Lu, Roujian; Han, Kai; Wu, Guizhen; Tan, Wenjie. “Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Different Types of Clinical Specimens” JAMA. March 11, 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.3786.