Seminole County

This city has detected a 1,400% increase in COVID-19 in its wastewater this month

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — For more than a year, the city of Altamonte Springs has been testing its sewer system for COVID-19. The test acts like a Doppler radar for detecting spread of the virus in the community.

Right now, the city is testing for seven COVID-19 variants, including the delta variant.

READ: 9 things you need to know about the COVID-19 delta variant

In two of the sewer service areas that are being tested, six of the seven coronavirus variants are present, and in this past month alone they have seen a steep increase in the amount of the virus detected.

The numbers have been going in the wrong direction over the last few weeks. The Altamonte Springs plant has seen a 1,400% increase in COVID-19 since July 1 — that’s a 4,000% increase from September 2020.

READ: How do you know if you have the delta variant; what are the symptoms?

The average daily positivity rate right now is around 18%. Health officials are urging people to wear a mask, stay away from the vulnerable and talk to your doctor about getting the vaccine.

Jeff Levkulich

Jeff Levkulich, WFTV.com

Jeff Levkulich joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in June 2015.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.