Sewage shows virus spike
Highest traces since the spring
The amount of coronavirus traces in recent Greater Boston sewage samples is more evidence of a virus “spike” across the region, infectious disease experts told the Herald on Thursday.
Results this week from Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s study to track wastewater indicators of COVID-19 show the highest amounts of viral RNA since the height of the pandemic in the spring.
“This tells us we’re surging, and reflects that more people are excreting more viral RNA,” said Todd Ellerin, director of infectious diseases at South Shore Health.
“This spike is obviously concerning, without question,” he added. “More COVID-19 viral RNA is around.”
The wastewater samples — taken three times a week at the Deer Island Treatment Plant — in April and May consistently surpassed 200 viral RNA copies per milliliter.
Some days were more than 300 copies per millileter.
On Sunday, the northern samples eclipsed 200 copies per millileter. Then on Monday, the southern samples went over 200 copies per millileter. This was the first time that had happened since April.
“It’s super worrisome,” said Boston University infectious diseases specialist Davidson Hamer. “I’m worried. A lot of us are nervous.”
“It’s more evidence of us seeing a second wave,” he added.
Coronavirus cases across the Greater Boston region and Massachusetts have been rising in recent weeks.
The Bay State has report
ed 8,980 cases in the last two weeks, and Thursday’s count of 986 cases was the highest count since the spring.
Doctors noticed in the summer that the average viral load in patients was lower, but now the viral load is at a higher level again, Ellerin said.
“It’s another indicator that we’re spiking and head
ing in the wrong direction,” he added.
The state and residents have to be “as aggressive as possible in our fight” against the virus, he said.
“I feel like right now I’m standing on a train track, and I’m watching a train approaching in slow motion,” Ellerin said. “We know what to do to decrease transmission, but I
feel like our feet are cemented to the track and we’re not moving.”
His top keys for slowing the spread of the virus are decreasing mobility, avoiding crowds, staying in a “bubble” as much as possible, wearing masks indoors, opening windows and optimizing ventilation.
The MWRA wastewater pilot study is in partnership
with laboratory Biobot Analytics.
The sewage data is “really fascinating,” said William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expert.
“All data is important for decision making, and this tells us that we’re in the uptick now,” he said. “It can help inform hospitals to get prepared now.”