As researchers across the province explore ways to identify and track COVID-19 early, Laurentian University has launched a research project that detects infections through the City of Greater Sudbury’s sewage.
In collaboration with the Health Sciences North Research Institute and the City, researchers can test for COVID-19 in raw sewage at the wastewater treatment facility without having to test individual residents. This data will then inform health officials about an outbreak as early as possible and would also capture people who are asymptomatic.
Once testing protocols have been developed, other municipalities can use the method as a way to test for the virus, which will be particularly helpful for smaller communities in Northern Ontario where COVID-19 and other illnesses, such as C. difficile, can spread quickly in long-term care homes and hospitals.
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