Water Sector News
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More COVID-19 being detected in wastewater in Austin
AUSTIN (KXAN) — As more people use at-home tests to determine if they have COVID-19, Austin Public Health says COVID-19 cases in Austin are underreported right now.
Since May 1, APH said they’ve gotten roughly 700 positive COVID-19 test self-reports: there were around 100 in April, 430 in May and there have been 224 so far this month. You can report your COVID-19 test results to APH on their website.
That lack of reporting is one of the reasons the health department has turned to wastewater testing to monitor the pandemic.
“We know case counts are underreported nationwide. At-home rapid tests are readily available and there isn’t a state or federal requirement to collect, track or investigate self-reported tests,” a spokesperson for APH said. “APH epidemiologists consider other disease surveillance indicators in addition to positive lab-confirmed results including wastewater surveillance.”