Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

October 26, 2020

No SARS-CoV-2 Detected in Air Samples (Pollen and Particulate Matter) in Leipzig during the First Spread

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Results from a study in Leipzig, Germany during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections did not find pollen to be a carrier for virus particles, nor that bioaerosol samples were infectious. While the authors note that aggregate findings from the study could suggest a correlation between Corylus  pollen species and COVID-19 cases, none of the identified pollen samples carried or transmitted SARS-CoV-2. They further note that a low number of cases in Leipzig may make it difficult to detect virus in the air, and that different cities with higher infection rates may observe different results.

Dunker et al. (Oct 2020). No SARS-CoV-2 Detected in Air Samples (Pollen and Particulate Matter) in Leipzig during the First Spread. Science of The Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142881