Abstract
At the time of sampling (2020/2021), the number of new cases of SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals in the Czech Republic significantly exceeded the numbers in neighboring countries and in the EU. In terms of the number of deaths, the country ranked near the top of the list. Legislative orders required wearing masks indoors, disinfecting surfaces in public places, and limiting the number of people per sales area in commercial spaces. Due to an situation, most schools and shops were closed. The entire country anticipated a total lockdown. To assess the risk to public health regarding SARS-CoV-2 transmission, air and surfaces were sampled in two public places: a post office and a shopping center. Samples were also collected at the COVID-19 unit at the local hospital. Neither air nor surface samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus particles in the post office or shopping center. Positive results were found in the hospital ward, with floors being the most and highest contaminated surface. Based on our results, we believe that public places do not pose a risk in relation to SARS-CoV-2 transmission, especially when epidemiological measures to reduce transmission are followed, such as wearing masks, using disinfectant or limiting the number of customers per retail establishment.
Highlights
The SASR-CoV-2 pandemic expanded at the turn of the years 2019 and 2020, erupting from a local outbreak in Wuhan, China to spread across the entire world
To help the decision-making bodies focus on effective preventive and protective measures in suppressing SARS-CoV-2 prevalence in the population, this study examined the screening of internal premises with a high movement of people to determine the risk of infection to patrons and visitors
After 12 h of operating, the SARS-CoV-2 was detected neither in liquid from the air washer located at the post-office (n = 1) nor at shopping center (n = 1)
Summary
The SASR-CoV-2 pandemic expanded at the turn of the years 2019 and 2020, erupting from a local outbreak in Wuhan, China to spread across the entire world. The speed with which the virus traveled, combined with the ease of transmission amongst patients with mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, meant that SARS-CoV-2 infected vast numbers of people in a relatively short time. Government and hygienic services in affected countries were nearly helpless to face the virus’s rapid spread within the population. A series of implemented protective measures were blindly put in place, primarily focused on restricting the population’s movement. This led to the partial or complete lockdown of the commercial sector in most of the affected countries, leaving only the essential stores open. All other segments of the commercial sector remained closed without any prospect of re-opening
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