Covid-19 sewage testing plan is ‘pile of nonsense’, says Longford HSE chairperson
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The Longford chairperson of a HSE committee has branded a move by health chiefs to start testing people’s sewage from early next month in a bid to track how Covid-19 as a “pile of nonsense” and a “complete waste of taxpayers money.”
Cllr Paraic Brady, who is the chairperson of the HSE’s Dublin Mid Leinster Forum, slammed the announcement by health bosses to roll out the National Covid-19 Wastewater Surveillance Programme.
The programme, which is set to start in early May, will measure the level of SARS-CoV-2 in 68 wastewater catchment areas across the country and will operate as an early warning system for future possible waves of Covid.
Covid-19 Regional Report Monday
Tuolumne County Tuolumne County Public Health reports sadly their investigations have confirmed two additional deaths due to COVID. One was a previously unreported case from January of a female in her 90’s and the other was a previously reported case from April of a woman in her 60’s.
There were four new community cases on Saturday, none on Sunday and two today. The six new cases are a man age 18 to 29, a woman and a man age 40 to 49, a man age 50 to 59, and two women 90 and older. No COVID-positive residents are hospitalized. A total of 17 cases are considered active.
A National SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Wastewater Surveillance Programme, that has been developed by a specialist team, with input from the Health Protection Surveill.
Ireland to start testing wastewater to detect Covid-19 levels in community Programme will measure level of coronavirus across 68 wastewater areas
Fri, Apr 30, 2021, 17:36 Aine Kenny
The National SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) Wastewater Surveillance Programme will begin in early May.
The programme will measure the level of SARS-CoV-2 in 68 wastewater catchment areas across the country and will operate as an early warning system for future possible waves of Covid.
A pilot study of the same nature involving three Irish wastewater treatment plants took place in 2020.
That project showed a very close correlation between the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in the wastewater and the daily number of new Covid-19 cases in the area.