Omicron now present in most Missouri wastewater samples

Missouri Sewershed Surveillance Project taking samples of more than 100 sites

Missouri Sewershed Surveillance Project taking samples of more than 100 sites

FROM THE STATE’S LEAD RESEARCHER. IT’S NOT THE PRETTIEST PROCESS TESTING WASTEWATER FOR COVID-19, BUT IT IS THE BEST TO SHOW US HOW QUICKLY THE VIRUS IS SPREADING IT IS GOING UP EVERY WEEK. THAT’S MARK JOHNSON. HE HAS THE JOB TO UPDATE THE STATE OF MISSOURI ON COVID-19 IN WASTEWATER SAMPLING. I DIDN’T THINK OF IRIS COULD MOVE FASTER THAN DELTA BUT OMICRON PROVEN WRONG JOHNSON SAYS WASTEWATER SAMPLING SHOWS THE VIRUS SPREAD FIRST IN AREAS CLEOS TO INTERSTATES NOW JUST THIS WEEK. HE SAID OMICRON HAS MOVED INTO AREAS NOW, WE’RE SEEING IT JUST EVERYWHERE. WE ALSO ASKED HIM ABOUT WASTEWATER SAMESPL PEAKING IN THE NORTHEAST THIS WEEK NATALIE, YOU KNOW, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF GOOD NEWS ALL THE DIFFICULT NEWS. SEEN THAT GAVE HOPE TO DOCTORS IN OUR AREA ON THUDARSYOR MNINGS BRIEFING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HEALTH SYSTEM. BUT IN TERMS OF WHERE OUR AREA STANDS THE WASTEWATER HAS NOT PEAKED YET. IT CAN SAY THAT FOR SURE. AND JUST BASED ON WHAT OERTH PLESAC HAVE GONE THROUGH I THINK WE HAVE A FEW MORE WEEKS. THIS JOHNSON ALSO SAID THE KANSAS CITY AREA COULD PEEK FIRST BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST

Omicron now present in most Missouri wastewater samples

Missouri Sewershed Surveillance Project taking samples of more than 100 sites

The omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus has made its way into most areas of the state of Missouri, according to the lead researcher with the Missouri Sewershed Surveillance Project.The project is taking wastewater samples from more than 100 sites to detect the spread of COVID-19.Marc Johnson with the project said he was surprised how quickly the omicron variant moved through the state."I didn't think a virus could move faster than delta," he said. "But omicron proved me wrong."Just this week, it has moved into more wastewater sampling in rural areas of the state, Johnson said. He also said the state has yet to hit the peak for the omicron variant."Just based on what other places have gone through, I think we have a few more weeks," he said.Johnson said the Kansas City area could peak first since it was one of the first to get hit with omicron.KMBC 9 News plans to continue weekly reports on wastewater sampling, as it provides an extremely accurate representation of how quickly COVID-19 is spreading.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

The omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus has made its way into most areas of the state of Missouri, according to the lead researcher with the Missouri Sewershed Surveillance Project.

The project is taking wastewater samples from more than 100 sites to detect the spread of COVID-19.

Marc Johnson with the project said he was surprised how quickly the omicron variant moved through the state.

"I didn't think a virus could move faster than delta," he said. "But omicron proved me wrong."

Just this week, it has moved into more wastewater sampling in rural areas of the state, Johnson said. He also said the state has yet to hit the peak for the omicron variant.

"Just based on what other places have gone through, I think we have a few more weeks," he said.

Johnson said the Kansas City area could peak first since it was one of the first to get hit with omicron.

KMBC 9 News plans to continue weekly reports on wastewater sampling, as it provides an extremely accurate representation of how quickly COVID-19 is spreading.

Omicron now present in most Missouri wastewater samples

Missouri Sewershed Surveillance Project taking samples of more than 100 sites

TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE

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