COLUMBUS, Ohio — As part of a study with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the Ohio EPA, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District will provide samples of its wastewater treatment plants to determine the presence of coronavirus ribonucleic acid (RNA) fragments, according to a release from the ODH.
Health officials said the virus RNA fragments are present in the feces of those who are both symptomatic and asymptomatic for COVID-19. Researchers at The Ohio State University, where the study is being conducted, said data provided from samples in sewage collection systems’ raw wastewater could provide an early warning sign of the disease.
Based on emerging science at both a national and international level, it has been suggested that the virus in infected individuals can be detected in wastewater about three to seven days before there are increases in cases and/or hospitalizations.
The initial round of sampling is being conducted with wastewater utility departments in some of Ohio’s largest municipal areas, including Cleveland, Columbus, Akron, Toledo, Cincinnati, and Dayton.
"We’re starting with the largest cities because that represents the largest population for the state and it reflects where we’re seeing most of the cases," said Rebecca Fugitt, Assistant Chief for the Bureau of Environment Health and Radiation at the Ohio Department of Health.
Researchers hope the data from this study could help public health officials to better estimate viral loads as a leading indicator of disease occurrence in the community, and help understand trends and effectiveness of community interventions to limit the spread of disease.
"Out of the 120 million gallons that may flow through on a normal day about a liter of that may go into the actual testing, but it’s representative of that 24-hour period," said Scott, Broski, Superintendent of Environmental Services at the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. "With one test, we can test essentially everyone in the service area. So it’s a very fast and efficient way to get a really quick snapshot of the prevalence of the virus in the community as a whole."
Though the study won’t determine if wastewater with traces of coronavirus can make someone sick, officials assure the virus will be thoroughly treated and removed from wastewater streams.
"There’s no danger or concern about the treated wastewaters being discharged," said Fugitt.
The research study is funded by $2 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. Additional information about the research, including sampling data, will be posted in the future on Ohio’s COVID-19 website sometime in August.
RELATED: Lab companies backed up with coronavirus tests, causing long delay in returning results
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.
Rebound Northeast Ohio News 5's initiative to help people through the financial impact of the coronavirus by offering one place to go for information on everything available to help and how to access it. We're providing resources on:
Getting Back to Work - Learn about the latest job openings, how to file for benefits and succeed in the job market.
Making Ends Meet - Find help on topics from rent to food to new belt-tightening techniques.
Managing the Stress - Feeling isolated or frustrated? Learn ways to connect with people virtually, get counseling or manage your stress.
Doing What's Right - Keep track of the way people are spending your tax dollars and treating your community.
We're Open! Northeast Ohio is place created by News 5 to open us up to new ways of thinking, new ways of gathering and new ways of supporting each other.
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Ohio, a timeline of Governor Mike DeWine's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Northeast Ohio, and link to more information from the Ohio Department of Health, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, the CDC and the WHO.
See data visualizations showing the impact of coronavirus in Ohio, including county-by-county maps, charts showing the spread of the disease, and more.
The CDC and the Ohio Department of Health are now recommending the use of cloth face coverings in public to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Read more about the CDC's recommendation here. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a face maskfrom common household materials, without having to know how to sew.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
