437 NUS Hostel Residents Underwent Swab Tests After COVID-19 RNA Detected in Wastewater; Told to Self-Isolate

The coronavirus is everywhere, even in your poop.

While this isn’t exactly a pleasant visual, it’s one way the authorities can determine the transmission level of Covid-19 in a particular area.

And once it’s detected, residents in that area need to be swabbed immediately.

437 NUS Hostel Residents Underwent Swab Tests After COVID-19 RNA Detected in Wastewater; Told to Self-Isolate

When the authorities discovered traces of the coronavirus in a wastewater sample collected from the hostel block of UTown Residence at the National University of Singapore (NUS) on Monday (22 March), they had to move quickly.

437 students living in the 25-storey block were tested immediately and were told to avoid contact with others.

Only one didn’t have to be swabbed as he had just recovered from COVID-19, reported TODAYonline.

According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), low levels of COVID-19 viral ribonucleic acid, or RNA, were detected on Sunday (21 March) in a wastewater sample collected the day before from the North Tower of UTown Residence.

Wastewater was collected as part of checks that have been conducted at all NUS hostels since 7 Dec last year to proactively detect COVID-19 cases.

MOH said there iis evidence to suggest that this may be due to viral shedding from a recovered past infection among the residents, but they’re taking no risks.

NUS sent out a circular to students on Monday night (22 March) notifying them of MOH’s requirement that affected students had to undergo swab tests.

The tests were compulsory and had to be performed “swiftly” to see if the traces of the coronavirus had come from someone with a current infection.

Hostel Barricaded; Students & Staff Told Not to Visit

According to TODAYonline, UTown was barricaded on Tuesday (23 March) morning and “Danger-Keep Out” signs had been put up.

Students and staff in the school were told not to visit the affected hostel block and avoid the swabbing stations.

NUS also instructed some students to return to campus immediately via a private vehicle, pre-booked taxi, or private hire car to begin self-isolation.

Students already on campus were told to avoid physical contact and only leave their rooms to use the bathroom, do laundry, and receive delivery orders until their COVID-19 test results were out.

They were also encouraged to use food delivery services for their meals and purchase essentials online.

NUS said it takes a serious view of non-compliance with the rules set out in its circular, and that any breach will result in disciplinary action, such as termination of campus housing or even expulsion.

Feature Image: Arpan on Shutterstock / Shutterstock.com