Coleta seletiva em tempos de pandemia: avaliação da presença de RNA de SARS-CoV-2 em uma associação de coletores de materiais recicláveis

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted recyclable material collectors, who were forced to halt activities due to global control measures. However, some regions, including the municipality of Lavras, Brazil, have implemented biosafety protocols to allow collection and processing activities to resume. It is crucial to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 prevention measures on human infection and environmental contamination caused by SARS-CoV-2. Here, we evaluated the environmental contamination and infection rates among workers at a Recyclable Material Collectors Association in Lavras, Brazil. Envi-ronmental samples were collected using swabs from surfaces in the waste storage shed, and nasopharyngeal swab samples were taken from waste pickers. Both types of samples were subjected to viral RNA extraction and RT-qPCR. No SARS-CoV-2 RNA was found in any of the environmental samples and all workers tested negative. This study was con-ducted before the collectors initiated their vaccination protocol. COVID-19 surveillance and control measures have been strictly implemented in the municipality, and the pickers followed the approved biosafety protocols from local authorities. The results of this study highlight the importance of well-established protocols for preventing SARS-CoV-2 in-fection, particularly for vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.