Altamonte Springs says wastewater testing can help predict surges in COVID-19 cases

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — For months, the city of Altamonte Springs has been testing its wastewater for the coronavirus.

Now, because of that testing, city officials said they believe they can predict a surge in cases.

They said the breakthrough could help health officials prepare for an outbreak in the future.

READ: Altamonte Springs studying traces of coronavirus in wastewater to try to track the virus

City Manager Frank Martz calls the test a “Doppler radar” for coronavirus and said they now believe they can predict at least seven days in advance when a viral surge in the community will take place.

And the numbers are staggering. Where positive cases in the city are only in the dozens, the wastewater test shows tens of thousands of people may be carrying the virus and not even know it.

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“So it allows us to be able to communicate to our health care providers, to our hospitals, to our assisted living facilities that we are seeing a greater degree of disease prevalence in our community, and that they should be prepared (and) make sure they reinforce their PPE standards,” Martz said.

Tim Cook, CEO for AdventHealth in Altamonte Springs, said the wastewater testing has great potential.

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“This thing has the potential should a big surge come,” Cook said. “Anything we can do to get out in front of it would be helpful, and if this tool has the ability to do that when those things happen, it’s something we would definitely like to take a look at.”

Right now the city is sharing its information with the Seminole County Emergency Advisory Group along with the heads of all the local hospitals. The city said it will start sharing the information with hospital CEOs in north Orange County as well to give the neighbors a heads up.