The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently proposed the use of wastewater testing for the detection of novel coronavirus variants. In response, the National Association of County and City Health Officials has expressed interest in the idea, and United Airlines has confirmed that it is in talks with the CDC to explore the possibility of participating in the program.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns over the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in China, noting that the country has not been fully transparent with its data. WHO further stated that China has “underrepresented” the scale of its Covid-19 outbreak and urged the country to step up its transparency. As a result, the US, UK, Australia, and Canada have all implemented a policy requiring travelers from China to test negative for Covid-19 before boarding flights to their respective countries.
Hospitals in northeastern China are reportedly overflowing with Covid-19 patients and struggling to cope with the influx, prompting the CDC to propose wastewater testing for the detection of novel coronavirus variants. The National Association of County and City Health Officials has expressed interest in the idea and United Airlines has confirmed that it is in talks with the CDC to explore the possibility of participating in the program.
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a strain on countries worldwide, with China being no exception. The WHO has called on China to be more transparent with its data, while the US and other countries have implemented policies requiring travelers from China to test negative for Covid-19 before boarding flights. The CDC has proposed wastewater testing as a tool to detect novel coronavirus variants, and hospitals in China are reportedly struggling to cope with the influx of Covid-19 patients.