SARS-CoV-2 RNA detectable at least eight months after shedding in an isolation facility

Environmental monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 for research and public health purposes has grown exponentially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Monitoring wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 provides early warning signals of virus spread and information on trends in infections at a community scale. Indoor environmental monitoring (e.g., swabbing of surfaces and air filters) to identify potential outbreaks is less common, and the evidence for its utility is mixed. A significant challenge with surface and air filter monitoring in this context is the concern of “relic RNA”— non-infectious RNA found in the environment that is not from a recently deposited virus. Here, we report the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on surfaces in an isolation unit (a university dorm room) for up to eight months after a COVID-19-infected individual vacated the space. Comparison of sequencing results from the same location over two time points indicates the presence of the entire viral genome and sequence similarity confirms a sing...