Recent wastewater data from reported cases of COVID-19, show sustained low levels of COVID-19 infection in Collingwood, Midland, Barrie and Orillia.
Samples started being collected in early February 2021 as part of the Ontario Wastewater Surveillance Initiative, to assist Ontario’s COVID-19 Preparedness Plan as an attempt to quickly identify, manage, and prevent outbreaks of the virus.
Scientific studies have shown that people with active COVID-19 infections shed the virus in their stool, sometimes even before symptoms start. This is what prompted the international rise of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) to monitor the presence of coronavirus genetic material (RNA) in wastewater as another screening tool to help identify the community spread of COVID-19.
Recent wastewater data support information from reported cases of COVID-19, showing sustained low levels of COVID-19 infection in Collingwood, Barrie, Midland and Orillia. Up-to-date wastewater sampling results for Simcoe County and Muskoka County are now available by clicking here.
“I am pleased this important information is now being shared publicly. Our Wastewater team is happy to be able to continue to contribute one piece of information to the extensive COVID-19 decision making dataset, and anything we can do to help increase transparency around information being used for pandemic-related decision making will only help increase public confidence in our health care professionals as they continue to work to keep us all safe and healthy,” says Heather McGinnity, Manager, Environmental Services.
The wastewater samples are collected from an automated composite sampler at the headworks of the wastewater treatment plant. Staff retrieve the sample from the composite sampler, mix it well, pour 200 mL into a polypropylene bottle and then courier the sample to the laboratory for analysis. Although there is no epidemiological evidence that wastewater is a route of transmission of COVID-19, staff wear personal protective equipment including latex gloves, goggles and a ventilator as a precaution when collecting these samples.
Collingwood shows low levels of COVID19 incidence
in Wastewater Surveillance Initiative results. Learn more: https://t.co/1DSalppheR pic.twitter.com/bepMTdkgj2— Town of Collingwood (@TownCollingwood) August 26, 2021