Macomb Today

Sewage could be the new way to track COVID-19 hot spots, according to AP News.

Macomb County would be the pioneer to see if evaluating samples from the sewage system can track coronavirus hot spots. The project is slated to kick off this month. 

Clinton Township will gather samples from seven different areas two times a week. If this method is proven accurate, it will go beyond that area. 

Macomb Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller said told AP News, “Through this, we hope we can identify… certain neighborhoods or parts of a community where there is a hot spot. Our goal is to provide that information to the health department so they can better target their contact tracing or other actions they may be able to take to reduce the community risk.”

There have been more than 61,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan since its widespread hit the state earlier this year. Unfortunately, the coronavirus has also taken the lives of more than 5,800 people, according to Click on Detroit.

In response, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued stay-at-home orders that have been in place since March. Now, the state is taking its time as it reopens to the public. 

Miller also told AP News that tracking the hot spots go hand-in-hand with the reopening process. 

“Providing information not only to our medical professionals but to the public as well is foundational to fighting this disease,” she said, according to AP News. “We believe there is a real opportunity here to be a part of the solution, and we are working as quickly as we can toward that goal. This ability to detect potential hot spots will be critical as we reopen our economy.”

The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) is footing the bill for the $1 million project.