Water Wheel July/August 2020: Covid-19

Abstract

COVID-19 The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has been closely associated with one of South Africa’s most precious resources – water. Water has run like a thin thread alongside the appearance of the virus causing the pandemic; at first, when the importance of handwashing and basic hygiene became clear and, more recently, followed by questions on whether the virus can be spread via contaminated water. To understand the capacity of Covid-19 to be transmitted via any water, whether it is sewage, wastewater from homes or hospitals, or leakages from burial sites, the nature of the virus needs to be understood. The SARS-CoV-2 virus A virus is a collection of genetic material; consisting of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) inside a protein shell. To cause infection, it must copy itself inside a living host’s cells. In this way the virus can cause a disease. Examples are polio, Ebola and hepatitis. Viruses are non-enveloped or enveloped. The first (nonenveloped viruses) consists of the genetic material inside its protein capsid.

Categories