Houston Attempting to Track COVID-19 Through Sewage

Rice University and the city officials of Houston have decided to try an unconventional method to track the spread of COVID-19.

There are recent studies showing the virus can be found in human feces. Testing sewage from the city's waste water plant could help officials pinpoint hot spots. False negative tests have made it difficult to track this virus, especially with some not showing symptoms. Success with this method could show trends over weeks and months relating to COVID-19 in certain Houston areas.

Dr. David Persse, the city's health official, hopes that trying unused techniques could be the key to understanding the spread of illness. Plant workers have been collecting data every 24 hours and sending it to Rice University for testing. Other cities and universities have started to use similar methods of testing.