Sewer Measurements Suggest Spike In MA Coronavirus Cases

BOSTON — An experimental measurement process designed to gauge the prevalence of the coronavirus in greater Boston this week showed levels of viral load in wastewater is as high as it has been since the April peak of the virus in the Northeast.

The belief is the viral load in wastewater is a precursor to a surge in cases and symptoms in the region.

The Massachusetts Water Resource Authority reported a seven-day rolling average of 130 copies of viral load per milliliter for southern areas of the water authority zone and 178 copies for areas north of Boston, with a daily high of 271 copies on Wednesday in the north and 263 in the south on Oct. 18.

Those numbers represent the highest levels measured since a daily measurement of 345 in the south April 21.

The highest measured levels of the pandemic were 361 in the north on April 8 and 366 in the south on April 6. The highest seven-day average was 312 in the south region on April 21.

Rates reached a low of eight copies in the north three times in June — most recently on June 27, and six copies in the south on June 22.

The water authority notes this is a pilot program of an evolving science. The results from this study are used by public health officials as an additional tool for the commonwealth to track how the pandemic is trending in Massachusetts, along with data from clinical tests, hospitalizations and other metrics.

The data, taken together, is used by state officials to make decisions about how to quickly respond, according to water authority.

The measurements coincide with a rise in coronavirus cases statewide in recent weeks.

On Saturday, the state reported 1,128 confirmed new coronavirus cases — the first time since May 24 there were more than 1,000 new cases reported in a single day.

This week, the state designated 14 more communities high-risk in the state metrics of more than eight cases per 100,000 residents. There are currently 77 out of 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts considered high-risk for the spread of the virus.

More Patch Coverage: MA Town-By-Town Coronavirus Stats: High-Risk List Keeps Growing

MA Tops 1,000 Coronavirus Cases A Day For First Time Since May