Sewage across Dewsbury tested to pick up new Covid-19 outbreaks

Samples from wastewater treatment works in the town are being used as part of studies conducted by Defra.

A separate study led by Sheffield University is taking samples from smaller sewage treatment works in the Sheffield area.

Early in the pandemic research revealed that people infected with the virus “shed” viral material in their faeces.

Sampling can provide local health professionals with a clearer picture of infection rates, identifying where there are high numbers of people with the virus, including those who asymptomatic or before they start showing symptoms.

Data from the Government-led project will be shared with NHS Test and Trace to help pin down where new outbreaks may be happening.

Local public health departments can then take early action by contacting institutions where there may be spikes in infection.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “This is a significant step forward in giving us a clearer idea of infection rates both nationally and locally, particularly in areas where there may be large numbers of people who aren’t showing any symptoms and therefore aren’t seeking tests.

“NHS Test and Trace is able to use the science to ensure local health leads are alerted and can take action.”

Covid-19 was added to a surveillance list which includes viruses like norovirus and hepatitis in March.

Dr Davey Jones, Professor of Soil & Environmental Science at Bangor University, said: “We showed that viral levels in wastewater mapped really well onto the success of lockdown measures in the first COVID-19 wave and to the emergence of the second wave.

"We are now using it to track the emergence and control of COVID-19 cases and working on new pilots to map the virus at both the local and the regional scale.”

James Harrison, head of wastewater asset management at Yorkshire Water, said testing processes had been rolled out across 10 sites.

He said: “The samples will be tested for markers of Covid-19, which cannot cause infection but do indicate infection within the population.

“We are still in the early stages of the project, but the data has the potential to uncover new outbreaks before medical testing.”

Across the UK testing is being done at 90 wastewater treatment sites, covering approximately 22 per cent of the population in England, with plans to expand in the future.