Yarmouth Covid Wastewater Testing Results - Dec 12, 2021
December 21st, 2021
- The virus level in the latest wastewater sample (Dec 20-21) is the highest we have ever seen since we began wastewater testing in September 2020.
- This week's virus level represents an average of more than 350,000,000 viral copies for each person using the Yarmouth wastewater system over the 24 hour sampling period.
- We’ve had very high adjusted virus levels for eight weeks in a row, and increasing levels for seven weeks in a row.
- This current stretch of high levels is the longest that we have ever seen – including January 2021 when we were in the middle of our last surge.
Results of weekly Wastewater Testing for SARS-CoV-2 for Yarmouth, Maine from September 22, 2020–June 8, 2021 & August 26–December 21, 2021
- All Yarmouth COVID data point to continuing very high levels of COVID in our Community, particularly as the Omicron variant spreads in Maine.
- The current COVID meter remains at the Yikes! level.
Based on the continuous and alarming increase in COVID numbers in our community, we strongly urge everyone in our community to:
- Minimize contact with folks outside your immediate circle of family and friends.
- Maintain social distance and wear a mask whenever you are out and about.
- Use rapid tests before getting together in groups or attending a community event.
- Maximize your immunization level. Vaccinate and boost as soon as you can.
- Avoid a false sense of security. The virus is lurking; and even if you don’t get really sick, contracting the virus means you can spread it to others who may not be as lucky.
- Be Kind. Be Safe. Be Patient.
FULL REPORT: Yarmouth Wastewater Testing Report for the week of December 21, 2021
The result of the most recent wastewater test, all previous tests during 2020 and 2021, and the number of reported cases of COVID-19 by week (Monday through Sunday) in the Yarmouth, Maine, zip code (04096) are shown in the figure and tables below:
Discussion of Wastewater Results and Case Reports
The virus level in this week's wastewater sample (December 20–21) is the highest since wastewater testing began in September 2020. The level continues the very high adjusted virus levels for the eighth week in a row. The current stretch of high viral levels has lasted longer and had consistently higher levels than any previous period (including January 2021).
This week's virus level represents an average of more than 350,000,000 viral copies for each person using the Yarmouth wastewater system over the 24 hour sampling period. Because not everyone is infected with SARS-CoV-2, this means that those who are infected are shedding tens of billions of viral copies each day into the wastewater system.
The 20 cases reported by the Maine CDC for the 7-day period from December 13–19 are likely an undercount for this period, based on the level of virus in Yarmouth's wastewater. The fluctuation in the number of cases reported for the past seven weeks (November 1–December 19) is inconsistent with the continuously high and climbing levels of virus in Yarmouth's wastewater and suggests problems with the accuracy and timeliness of cases reported for this period.
With the inconsistent availability of reportable rapid tests, the use of home kits, a significant PCR testing backlog in the Maine state laboratory, and a delay in counting cases due to the recent surge in cases in Maine, it is likely that the Yarmouth wastewater levels of SARS-CoV-2 virus provide a more accurate picture of the current situation in Yarmouth than do the case reports.
Yarmouth School and Community Testing Results
Yarmouth is fortunate to have additional information about what is going on with the SARS-CoV-2 community spread through the Yarmouth School Department's pooled testing program and Yarmouth's weekly community testing program.
December 13–17
The Yarmouth School Department conducted pooled testing for SARS-CoV-2 on December 13, which yielded five positive pools for SARS-CoV-2: one at Rowe Elementary School (Rowe), two at YES, one at HMS, and one at YHS. During the school week of December 13–17, Rowe reported 1 case, YES reported 6 positive cases, HMS reported 2 cases, and YHS reported 3 cases, for a total of 12 cases.
The results of the Yarmouth community testing event on Monday, December 13, were 7 positives (8.9%) out of 79 individuals tested.
December 20–24
The Yarmouth School Department did not conduct pooled testing for SARS-CoV-2 on December 20. During the abbreviated school week of December 20–22, YES reported 2 positive cases and YHS reported 2 cases, for a total of 4 cases.
The Yarmouth community testing event on Monday, December 20, showed a lower percentage of positives than on December 13 with 3 positives (2.1%) out of 143 individuals tested.
Recommendations
Prepare for a continued COVID-19 surge and the arrival of omicron, the newest SARS-CoV-2 variant. Vaccination, including boosters, of all eligible individuals and adherence to recommended practices for limiting virus transmission—such as masking, physical distancing, good ventilation, and avoiding crowded indoor spaces—are key to reducing viral infections and ongoing transmission.
Participation of students, teachers, and staff in pooled testing for SARS-CoV-2 at the Yarmouth schools and testing of individuals in non-school settings, as needed, also play an important role in identifying infected individuals so that appropriate isolation and quarantine can limit viral spread.
Expand rapid antigen testing via home tests and community testing to quickly recognize cases to ensure that persons who test positive can isolate and those that are close contacts can quarantine.
The Town of Yarmouth with the Yarmouth Community Coronavirus Task Force and the State of Maine will make sure that persons needing isolation can get food and support during this trying time.
If assistance is needed, please call Yarmouth Community Services or the Task Force; or fill out a form for the State of Maine's Community Care (someone will usually call the same day): https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/covid-19-referral-form.
Thanks to the Yarmouth Community
The Team would like to thank the Town of Yarmouth, the Yarmouth Community Coronavirus Task Force, and individual donations for funding Yarmouth's wastewater testing program from late-August 2021 through late-February 2022.
Thanks also to Chris Cline and Yarmouth Wastewater Treatment Facility staff for collecting the weekly samples; to Tom Downing, Gro Flatebo, Laura Coroi, Dan Ostrye, and Gib Parrish for transporting wastewater samples from the Treatment Facility to the laboratory at Saint Joseph's College; and to Yolanda Brooks at Saint Joseph's College for analyzing the samples for SAR-CoV-2.
Gib Parrish and Sharon McDonnell
HOW DOES WASTEWATER TESTING WORK?
Every week we measure the total number of viral copies of SARS-CoV-2 in the Yarmouth wastewater over a 24 hour sampling period. This gives us an average number of viral copies per person.
Because not everyone is infected with Covid, this means that those who are infected are shedding tens of billions of viral particles each day into the wastewater system.
WHAT DOES THIS TELL US?
We know that the Covid test results we are seeing from the Maine CDC are not telling us the full picture. By looking at a variety of sources of data we can get a clearer picture of how much Covid was circulating in Yarmouth during the prior week.
We take:
- data from our wastewater testing in Yarmouth
- data from the CDC on positive case numbers
- data from the Yarmouth school system - both pooled testing, and positive cases reported
- data from the Yarmouth Covid Task Force testing that happens every Monday.
This gives us a much fuller picture. Read below for the full report.
Interested to learn more?
Yarmouth Tests Wastewater to Understand Local Covid-19 Trends