Early detection of COVID-19 and its variants is one of the big advantages of wastewater surveillance, doctors say. Illinois is currently monitoring wastewater from about 80% of the population.
that would monitor the virus that causes COVID-19 and its variants in wastewater in all 102 Illinois counties by the end of 2021.Nearly a year later, only 68 wastewater treatment plants in 48 counties are participating in the program, according to state health officials.
“Some were unreachable and some declined participation,” the spokesperson said, adding outreach efforts included contacting local municipalities. “We are open to including additional counties if they are interested.” There is no cost to wastewater treatment plants to participate in the program, according to IDPH. The state system provides sample collection and shipping equipment, and relies on utility operators to collect samples twice a week.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is detectable in human waste nearly from the onset of infection, according to officials. Symptoms may not appear for three to five days. In addition to participating in the statewide program, the Chicago Department of Public Health conducts wastewater surveillance at Cook County Jail as well as neighborhood sites throughout the city.
While wastewater surveillance can detect changes in the amount of virus in an area, it can’t say how many people have COVID-19 at a particular time. “Wastewater is such a complex mixture, and it’s really hard to say this amount of virus means this many people are sick,” Poretsky said. “We can’t directly make that link.”
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