Somerville Wastewater Testing To Act As COVID-19 “Smoke Alarm”

Somerville will soon be looking to its sewage for warning signs of a potential coronavirus surge in the community.  Image via CBS Boston.

– News covered by Quincy Quarry News with commentary added.

Fecal testing matters
A Shutter.stock image

Somerville wastewater testing to act as COVID-19 “Smoke Alarm.”

The testing will entail the monitoring of bodily wastes in local sewerage so as to endeavor to identify potential neighborhood COVID-19 hot spots as much as two weeks earlier than standard testing practices.

This approach to the monitoring of sewerage approach has been utilized elsewhere in the country, including universities and a water district in Maine.

Constipated?
A YouTube video still image

On top of the potential for advance warning, the technique does not intrude on personal privacy.

Additionally, the technology appears to be able to overcome high levels of bovine byproduct spewed by local politicians.

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Source: Somerville Wastewater Testing To Act As Coronavirus ‘Smoke Alarm’