The state will begin a project to test wastewater to help track the overall spread of COVID-19. Research is showing that people can shed the COVID-19 virus even before showing symptoms. Monitoring for the virus in wastewater can possibly inform communities whether there will be an outbreak a couple of days to a week in advance.
Researchers from Colorado State University and Metropolitan State University of Denver will aid in the project– as will Colorado wastewater utilities.
In total, the state aims to partner with 16 utilities, which represent 60-65 percent of Colorado’s population. They will collect wastewater samples at their treatment plants and send them to Colorado State University, or in some cases, MSU Denver. The Colorado Department of Public Health and local public health epidemiologists will then analyze the results to help understand potential trends for COVID-19 cases in those communities.
Communities in the U.S. and in Europe have used similar projects to provide an early warning of a COVID-19 outbreak.
On Friday, August 14, 2020, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis extended his statewide mask-wearing mandate into mid-September. The mandate, requires Coloradans 11 years old and above to wear a mask when in indoor public spaces.
Read about the Governor’s Executive Order:https://www.colorado.gov/governor/sites/default/files/inline-files/D%202020%20164%20Non%20Medical%20Face%20Covering.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0ePvTN4n9SqXz4wqa7g7KuxBk1SrEcsuWVm5vh2PVTpHWI0PAq24tNl60
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