Signs of severe COVID-19 outbreak detected in North Bend wastewater – KEZI TV

NORTH BEND, Ore. -- Researchers from the OSU COVID-19 Wastewater-based Surveillance Team released data yesterday that pointed to a severe outbreak of COVID variants in the area of North Bend.

Since 2020, researchers at Oregon State University have been testing sewage for trace amounts of COVID-19 and variants of the disease. These testing efforts are part of a statewide program that will continue until summer of 2023. Wastewater samples from several treatment facilities are sent to OSU labs to be tested twice a week. Experts say that this method is a cheap and accurate way to gauge how much COVID is in a community.

On Tuesday, researchers from OSU released data gathered by this method that suggests the city of North Bend may be beginning to experience a severe outbreak of COVID. According to OSU researchers, North Bends detection rate has been increasing since May 11 and the most recent data shows concentrations of the virus that have been linked to increased hospitalizations and fatalities in other instances.

While the virus has only recently reached very strong levels of concentration according to the data, additional preventative measures are recommended to curtail the outbreak.

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Signs of severe COVID-19 outbreak detected in North Bend wastewater - KEZI TV