Institutionalising wastewater surveillance systems to minimise the impact of COVID-19: cases of Indonesia, Japan and Viet Nam

This mini review describes the current status and challenges regarding institutionalisation of wastewater surveillance systems against COVID-19. Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater has been proposed to be a potential tool to understand the actual prevalence of COVID-19 in the community, and it could be an effective approach to monitor the trend during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, challenges to institutionalise wastewater surveillance systems are still abundant and unfolding at a rapid rate given that the international understanding regarding the scientific knowledge and socio-political impacts of COVID-19 are in the developing stages. To better understand the existing challenges and bottlenecks, a comparative study between Japan, Viet Nam, and Indonesia was carried out in the present study. Through gaining a better understanding of common issues as well as issues specific to each country, we hope to contribute to building a robust multistakeholder system to monitor SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater as an effective disease surveillance system for COVID-19.

Automated summary

This mini review discusses the current status and challenges of establishing institutional wastewater surveillance systems for COVID-19. While monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is seen as a potential tool to understand the actual prevalence of COVID-19, challenges remain due to the evolving international understanding of the scientific knowledge and socio-political impacts of the virus. Comparing Japan, Viet Nam, and Indonesia in a study aims to identify common issues and country-specific problems to contribute to the development of a robust multistakeholder system for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater as an effective disease surveillance system for COVID-19.