Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
MoreBack to News Headlines
The COVID-19 testing system isn't working anymore. Could sewage surveillance plug the gap?

The COVID-19 testing system isn't working anymore. Could sewage surveillance plug the gap?

CBC
Friday, January 7, 2022 11:07 AM GMT

The COVID-19 testing system has been overwhelmed by the Omicron variant, making it impossible to know how many people are infected.

Monitoring for the novel coronavirus in wastewater could help fill the gap, says Rob Delatolla, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Ottawa and one of dozens of researchers across Canada that have been developing and using the technique.

"I think it just became that much more valuable," he said.

But how does it work? What can and can't it do? And how much can it really help inform public health policy?

People who are infected shed the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the disease in their feces. This happens even before the onset of symptoms. People can keep shedding genetic material from the virus in the form of RNA for several weeks. That RNA can be detected and monitored in wastewater and used to detect trends in COVID-19 infection.

Bernadette Conant is CEO of the Canadian Water Network, which co-ordinates the COVID-19 Wastewater Coalition. She said this technique was first used in the Netherlands early in the pandemic, adapted from those used in the surveillance of other diseases, such as polio.

The Canadian coalition started up in April 2020 to help share knowledge about the technique, its reliability and how it could be used to inform public health.

It's being used in "pretty much every province across Canada," said Conant, but is more developed in some areas than others. The technique is most heavily used in Ontario and Alberta, where wastewater surveillance covers 75 per cent of the population. In Quebec, the program ended in December, as it was funded by a research grant that ran out.

It's been primarily used in urban areas because they tend to have wastewater treatment plants that regularly sample water anyway to monitor for other things and tend to have universities with expertise needed to develop and run this kind of surveillance.

However, Conant said researchers are looking into how to apply the technique in areas without sewers.

There's no standard method, said Conant, because it is often developed quickly, using whatever resources are locally available. 

But most sites follow a similar procedure:

WATCH | A look inside Ottawa's wastewater facility where COVID-19 samples are collected:

Early detection. Since even asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic people shed the virus, outbreaks can be detected through wastewater before it shows up through clinical testing.

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Ancient Saskatchewan archaeological site falls victim to illegal scavenging

A crucial archaeological site in Saskatchewan has become a target for illegal scavenging.

Decision to refill Lake Pisiquid coming with side-effects, say some Windsor residents

Some Windsor, N.S., residents say a two-year-old decision to close the gates of an aboiteau and keep Lake Pisiquid filled with water is unnecessary and causing other problems.

First Nations opposition to Bill C-5 draws comparisons to Idle No More movement

As more First Nations voice opposition to Bill C-5, some are drawing comparisons to the 2012 Idle No More movement. 

Islanders are being asked to help track the rare smooth greensnake this summer

If you spot a smooth greensnake in the wild on Prince Edward Island this summer, the province's Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division wants to hear from you.

News got you down? Counsellors explain why doom scrolling is so easy — and how to limit it

Western Canada glaciers melting twice as fast as in previous decade, research says; Nigerian judge convicts man of sextorting B.C. teen who died by suicide; Overdose deaths tick up to 165 in April: B.C. Coroners Service; Her husband died after a lung transplant. Now she has to sell her home to pay the bills; Gaza health authorities say Israel kills 44 waiting for aid as war's death toll passes 56,000. 

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us