National SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Wastewater Surveillance Programme in Ireland publishes first weekly surveillance report
A National SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Surveillance Programme, which has been developed by a specialist team, with input from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the HSE, HIU, the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL), UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, and Irish Water, has published its first weekly surveillance report.
This wastewater surveillance programme will be an important part of the work being undertaken to monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 in communities across Ireland. The programme will measure the level of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater within 68 wastewater catchment areas across the country and will effectively operate as an early warning system for possible future waves of COVID-19 infection.
In week 33, 2021 SARS-CoV-2 was detected in wastewater samples from 67 of the wastewater catchment areas analysed (n=67). These results are in keeping with the high incidence rate of COVID-19 currently being seen throughout Ireland.
For frequently asked questions on the National SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Surveillance Programme go to https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/surveillance/wastewatersurveillanceprogramme/frequentlyaskedquestions/