Utah wastewater indicates increased levels of COVID-19

SALT LAKE CITY — Recent wastewater readings detected elevated levels of COVID-19 in almost every area of the state. They are higher than they have been during the last two months. 

Utah monitors wastewater for the virus because it shows at least a week before someone develops symptoms.

Nathan LaCross, the wastewater surveillance manager for the Department of Health and Human Services, said it’s something to watch, especially in immunocompromised populations. 

“So, if there’s somebody who is maybe on the more elderly side and thus more likely to have more severe disease, [or] somebody who is predisposed to that severe disease due to other pre-existing health conditions,” said LaCross.

The cause of the current increase is unknown. However, tourism and recreational summer travel could be contributing. Hyrum City and Ogden, as well as tourist areas like St. George, Moab, and Price, were all on the list of cities that detected increased levels. 

According to LaCross, levels in most of the readings across the state are high enough to be in the “elevated” category. However, levels are not as high as they were at the end of last year.

“It is still at the present time, mid-July, lower than the peak we saw at the end of last December,” he said. 

In the coming weeks, people in locations where wastewater levels of COVID-19 are high may start to show symptoms.

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