Raw Sewage Indicates COVID-19 On The Rise In Twin Cities

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL METRO — The amount of COVID-19 is on the rise in the Twin Cities metro area, according to raw sewage sampled at the treatment plant in St. Paul.

During the pandemic, scientists from the Met Council's Environmental Services division have been extracting viral genetic material from wastewater samples and sending them to the University of Minnesota Genomics Center for testing.

The samples allow researchers to track the rise and fall of infection rates. According to the latest data, the viral load in local wastewater has been steadily rising since the middle of March.

However, while data from the Minnesota Department of Health does confirm the rise in cases, hospitalizations and deaths remain low.

The Saint Paul treatment plant serves much of the seven-county metro area. Watch a video about how the Met Council monitors COVID-19 in wastewater here.