From Sewers to Illinois Residents: What the End of Covid Emergency Really Means

As Covid-19 tracking efforts wind down, wastewater data is becoming increasingly important in monitoring the virus. The National Wastewater Surveillance System, established by the CDC in 2020, now includes data from over 1,400 sampling sites across the US, covering more than 40% of the population. Wastewater surveillance will remain a critical early warning system for both officials and members of the public, helping to spot incipient outbreaks and track new variants. However, more work is needed to turn this ad hoc emergency effort into a sustainable national system, and officials will need to be thoughtful about how they use the data.