Coronavirus may have been present in Italy as early as December, according to the country's National Institute for Health (ISS). The virus was found in samples of sewage water in Milan and Turin, the institute said in a new report. ISS researchers analysed 40 samples of wastewater collected from October 2019 to February 2020, and compared them to 24 control samples from September 2018 through June 2019.

The virus that causes COVID-19 was present in samples from Milan and Turin on December 18 and in Bologna on January 29. The samples were analysed in two different laboratories with two separate methods, the institute said. Samples in January and February 2020 also tested positive, whereas samples from October and November 2019 tested negative.