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State Finds Traces Of Coronavirus In Columbus Sewage

cincinnati.com

State health officials Tuesday reported 993 new cases of COVID-19 and five new deaths. 

The state now has 152,907 cases and 4,783 deaths. 

The Ohio Department of Health found increased levels of coronavirus in sewage in Columbus, Akron, Mansfield, Sandusky, Dayton and Oregon before the number of diagnosed cases rose in those cities. An increase in cases occurs four to seven days after higher levels of genetic fragments of the virus are detected in wastewater. When people first get coronavirus, they begin shedding it before they begin experiencing symptoms, and it shows up in sewage.  State officials are monitoring 36 wastewater sites and plan to add 25 more in October. 

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.
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