Does COVID-19 live in our Rivers?

After the RNA of the virus has been detected in stool samples, there has been increased fear and questioning whether the virus could continue living in our waterways. This week on Sungai Watch, we look into the possible risks of whether the virus could live in our rivers.

COVID-19 is a fast moving situation. The science is rapidly evolving. In fact what we know now at this current time, could change with further research. Some research has proved that the virus has remained viable and infectious in natural fresh water environments, including lakes, streams and rivers. We tuned in to a recent seminar made available by the Water Research Foundation to learn more into the specifics. You can watch the full webinar on this link.

According to Dr. Rasha Maal-Bared, Chair of the WED Disinfection and Public Health Committee, over the last 3 months there has been a lot of research to know more about the virus. She states “The RNA of the virus has been found in anal and oral swabs, in blood, in fesces and more recently on the surfaces of a patients swoon, so a toilet bowl, even the boots of a healthcare worker. One of the most important thing to say is that we haven’t isolated it from surface water, from ground water or waste water yet. What are the implications for the waste water sector then? Well, we have to admit that there is the possibility of a fecal-oral route transmission that we have to be aware of.”

A fecal-oral transmission route would entail that when swimming in a river (where waste water containing the virus was found) and you take a gulp of water accidentally, you could potentially contract COVID-19. This theory is still uncertain and the science behind it has yet to be proven. Therefore at the moment, it is unknown as to what the impacts on human health would be if the virus lived in our rivers.

But that shouldn’t stop us from staying very alert and making sure we are staying safe when doing a river clean up (or a beach clean up for that matter). At Make A Change, we recommend that you stay up to date and follow the steps of best practices from the CDC and WHO by frequently visiting their website. Here are some simple steps to take during this pandemic to make sure that you are staying as safe and as healthy as possible:
- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds frequently and thoroughly.
- Do not touch your face (especially eyes, nose or mouth) without washing your hands first.
- Absolutely stay home if you are sick.
- Stay home as much as possible, even if you don’t feel sick.
- Practice social distancing and avoid large gatherings.