Water resources, public policies and the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract The novel coronavirus pandemic has resulted in global socioeconomic impacts; however, there is still a need to improve understanding and data about its form and patterns of propagation. Therefore, studies on the role of water resources and sanitation should be prioritized, given the potential to serve as a means of dispersing the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19 disease. So far, the RNA of the transmitting virus has been detected in domestic sewage in several countries, but there is, so far, no evidence of contamination by direct contact with these effluents. Even so, poor regions without adequate treatment of water and sewage, as occur in Brazil, must act in order to develop efficient policies to improve water quality aimed at public health. One of the options is the formation of a Hub that aggregates the various interrelated aspects of water and sanitation into a cohesive and actionable whole. It is essential to combine investment, research, and monitoring of water and effluent quality to improve sanitary security, water quality and human health, with an emphasis on the poorest sectors. The Hub would also serve as a means of controlling and monitoring the dispersion of pathogens such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, thus mitigating economic and societal impacts.摘要 新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）大流行已对全球社会经济造成广泛冲击，但当前学界对其传播形式与传播规律的认知及相关数据仍存在不足，有待进一步完善。鉴于引发COVID-19的严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2型（SARS-CoV-2）可能以水资源与卫生设施为传播媒介，相关研究应予以优先推进。截至目前，已有多个国家在生活污水中检出该病毒的核糖核酸（RNA），但尚无直接接触此类污水引发病毒感染的相关证据。即便如此，像巴西这类缺乏完善水与污水处理体系的贫困地区，仍需采取行动制定高效政策，以改善水质、保障公众健康。其中一项可行举措是搭建综合枢纽（Hub），将水资源与卫生领域的各类关联要素整合为一个连贯且可落地执行的整体。为提升卫生安全水平、改善水质与人类健康状况，需将投资、研究及污水水质监测工作相结合，且应重点关注最贫困的群体。该枢纽还可用于管控与监测严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2型（SARS-CoV-2）等病原体的传播，从而减轻其对经济与社会造成的负面影响。