COVID levels nearly double in wastewater from the Warren area
COLUMBUS, Ohio - One of the indicators the Ohio Health Department uses to gauge the spread of COVID in the state shows levels of the virus up in the Warren area.
The latest data available from the Ohio Coronavirus Wastewater Monitoring Network show a substantial increase in the virus levels detected in sewage collected by the Warren Pollution Control Department during the last two weeks of June.
The 191% increase in virus levels was detected in sewage from the City of Warren, as well as Lordstown, Champion Township, Howland Township, and Warren Township
The increase of COVID-19 cases in communities is typically tracked by testing people with symptoms, an indicator that lags behind the actual spread of the disease.
Because of this, health officials say there is a need to use early monitoring methods that estimate the disease’s impact on the broader community.
Samples collected from the Youngstown Wastewater Treatment plant during the same period showed a 26% decrease in virus levels in sewage from Youngstown, and parts of Liberty, Coitsville, Boardman, Austintown, and Canfield townships.
The Ohio Department of Health last week updated testing data showing COVID-19 cases per 100k slightly increased in the Mahoning Valley with two out of three counties currently sitting in the medium level for transmission risk.
According to the latest statewide data, Columbiana County is still in the low range with 221 reported cases (216.9 per 100k).
Mahoning and Trumbull are still in the medium level with Mahoning having 638 reported cases (279.0 per 100k) and Trumbull having 546 reported cases (275.8 per 100k).
