Northern Arizona University Testing Wastewater To Track COVID-19
Northern Arizona University researchers are studying wastewater to track the spread of COVID-19.
Assistant Professor Crystal Hepp says if a lot of people in that area are asymptomatic, the wastewater would be able to detect that, and researchers could predict a possible outbreak.
→ University Of Arizona Scientists Tracking Coronavirus Spread Through Wastewater
“We’ll be able to detect if the virus is present in the community. We’ll be able to get an estimate as how large the outbreak is in a particular community. And then coupled with genomic sequencing, we’ll be able to determine if there are new introductions from locations outside of Arizona,” Hepp said.
Genomic sequencing will also allow them to see if the virus is changing.They are testing at six different northern Arizona locations, including the Navajo Nation.
