Quebec’s Well being Division has begun releasing information on the presence of COVID-19 in wastewater.

The federal government says the information can present early warning of latest pandemic waves or the emergence of latest variants.

Quebec has been screening wastewater for COVID-19 in Quebec Metropolis and the Montreal space since late March however solely started releasing the information immediately.

The seven-day common of wastewater collections suggests a decline within the focus of COVID-19 in wastewater in Quebec Metropolis, whereas in Montreal, the information suggests a steady focus.

Dominic Frigon, a McGill College civil engineering professor who helped develop Quebec’s wastewater screening program, says the information could be helpful for detecting tendencies however provides that COVID-19 ranges in wastewater don’t instantly correlate to case counts.

Frigon says wastewater information will also be affected by different elements, akin to rain, which dilutes the sewage for testing.

The federal authorities has been publishing wastewater screening information – together with for the Montreal space – on-line since early Might 2022.

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