COVID-19 RNA Found in NUS Hostel Wastewater; Residents to Undergo Swab Tests

Ever had those “oh crap” moments? Yeah, this is probably one of those.

On Monday (22 Mar), staff and students of a National University of Singapore (NUS) hostel were informed that low levels of COVID-19 viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) had been detected in the wastewater of the block.

According to The Straits Times, the samples taken were from an inspection chamber connected to the bathrooms of UTown Residence North Tower.

All residents of the hostel block will need to be swabbed. The director of the NUS’s office of safety, Dr Peck Thian Guan, noted that swabbing stations will be set up at UTown Residence today (23 Mar).

The Ministry of Health (MOH) requires all residents in the apartments to undergo the swab test as a precautionary measure.

Affected residents were also told to isolate themselves and minimise physical contact with others till the swab test results come back negative.

The rest of the school are not to go near the block, swabbing stations, and its vicinity.

Students and staff should also continue to monitor their health by declaring their temperature through uNivUS and complying with current safe distancing measures.

Non-Intrusive Surveillance Programme

Dr Peck explained that the university has implemented a wastewater surveillance programme in all hostels since 7 December 2020. This was to detect local COVID-19 cases in a “safe, effective and non-intrusive way”.

He also urged students and staff to remain calm, emphasising that they should continue to “comply with the precautionary measures outlined above, and do not spread unverified information”.

NUS will update students and staff in due time on the results of the swab test.

Students and staff who have further questions are advised to check with the management office of their respective faculty, school or department, or e-mail [email protected].

Feature Image: Arpan on Shutterstock / Shutterstock.com