[Recent press coverage - Excerpts]
Zahn, Brian. (2020, October 28). Data shows dramatic increase in COVID-19 in New Haven wastewater plant. New Haven Register. https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Data-shows-dramatic-increase-in-...
"NEW HAVEN — Fecal samples collected from a local sewage plant, which are tested as an early indicator of an uptick in COVID-19 infections, are showing a considerable uptick in the concentration of the novel coronavirus, according to data. Scientists with Yale University found that the concentration of COVID-19 RNA in stool samples correlated with hospitalization rates roughly three days later.
The data published by COVIDTrackerCT shows the number of copies per mL of sludge has risen from no higher than 10,000 with three daily exceptions between June 30 and Sept. 30 to samples exceeding 20,000 copies per mL of sludge four times in October. On samples tested on Oct. 26, the tracker reported more than 50,000 copies per mL of sludge, a sharp increase from all other days of data. [....]
Mark Abraham, executive director of the local nonprofit DataHaven, monitors COVID-19 data. [...] "On Friday of last week, I noticed a substantial uptick in the levels of the virus that causes COVID-19 in the public data report on New Haven area wastewater, which is one of the data sources that we look at each day,” he said. “The report suggests that they have climbed to much higher levels since then. It can take a few days to establish a clear trend, but the degree of increase this week, which has also been seen in Boston, is certainly concerning.” [....]
New Haven Independent. (2020, October 28). Wastewater RNA Spike Spurs Covid Concern. https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/wastewater_...
"The concentration of Covid-19 RNA in New Haven’s wastewater shot up — raising concerns that a flood of new local coronavirus cases may follow. [....]
“In March, this predicted a surge in hospitalizations 3-5 days out with near-perfect accuracy,” DataHaven, which is tracking the Covid Tracker, observed Monday in a tweet. “Boston is seeing a similar surge in its ... wastewater this week.”
City Health Director Maritza Bond has also been monitoring the Covid Tracker. The surge has her concerned, she said Wednesday. “We are closely monitoring and will be deliberating with the health team along with the administration what additional” public health measures to take to try to address the spread.
