The highly contagious micron variable led to the increase in the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant, but plant officials stressed that the latest virus levels remain low. BA.2 subtype, which caused a recent rise in COVID-19 in Europe, accounted for 55% of the viral material found in plant tests in the week ending March 21st. It was 42% the previous week and 17% the week before. “It’s basically understood and is the dominant sub-variation and the load is increasing,” said Steve Balogh, a researcher in the Met Council’s environmental services department. “That to me suggests that this is something that could have legs, but it ‘s too early to say. We only have two weeks’ worth of data. I do not want to sound the alarm.” Sewage sampling existed in previous phases of the pandemic, but has evolved into a highly monitored early warning system this year. Retrospective studies have shown that virus levels in sewage increased one or two weeks before new COVID-19 waves appeared. “Everyone is very interested in wastewater data,” said Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, infectious disease specialist at Minneapolis Veterans Medical Center. “It really tells you what’s going on without having to worry about ‘Well, people don’t go for exams?’ Everyone goes to the toilet. So as long as you check it, you should be able to find it.” Sewage data defies the otherwise improved COVID-19 activity rates in Minnesota. No county in Thursday’s briefing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was in the COVID-19 high-risk area that includes recommending the use of a mask for indoor public spaces. COVID-19 hospitalizations in Minnesota fell to 217 on Thursday, well below this year’s high of 1,624 on Jan. 14. The 26 patients with COVID-19 in need of intensive care on Thursday were the lowest total since July 19 – before the onset of delta and micron variations dispelled early hopes for a …
