A quarter of CDC-sponsored wastewater surveillance sites are shut down.
A treatment plant in Oakland, Calif., where researchers have tested wastewater for the coronavirus. | Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesA quarter of the nation’s wastewater testing sites — one of the most dependable ways of tracking Covid surges — are shut down indefinitely over a contract dispute.
“The thing I’m concerned about is continuity of our surveillance data while this protest is playing out,” said Chad Gubala, a wastewater official in Juneau, Alaska. Bradley White, the principal scientist for the Verily wastewater lab, said that the company is ready to go, with much of its infrastructure already built.
The CDC has not explained why it decided to change contractors, though its deal with Verily is considerably less expensive. Wastewater testing was particularly helpful during the pandemic in detecting Covid surges. And with fewer people than before testing themselves for the disease or reporting results when they do, it’s one of the best remaining ways to see where the virus is spreading.
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