Contribution of point-of-care laboratories in the molecular diagnosis and monitoring of COVID-19 in Niakhar, Dielmo and Ndiop rural areas in Senegal

Abstract

1. •

   POC laboratories have demonstrated their usefulness in the context of a pandemic (like COVID-19).

2. •

   The movement of population during major events likely contributed to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.

3. •

   The persistence of the pandemic is due to the high mutation rate of the virus and the constant appearance of variant of concern.

4. •

   POC laboratories were among the few laboratories capable of routinely detecting SARS-CoV-2 variants in Senegal.

Keywords: COVID-19; Dielmo; Ndiop; Niakhar; Senegal.