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Searching The Sewers For The Coronavirus

GregReese
/
Pixabay

Even when people can't or won't get tested for COVID-19, there are other ways to detect the virus in populations. Think of things that come out of the human body.

Yes, that's right, testing sewage streams can detect the presence of the virus, and that is happening in Ashland. RAIN Incubator, a Tacoma laboratory, is performing the work; it does not identify individuals, but can detect the presence of the virus in a particular area before people display symptoms.

RAIN Incubator founder David Hirschberg and Ashland resident Maylee Oddo, who helped bring the testing to town, talk about the process.

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The Jefferson Exchange is Jefferson Public Radio's daily news program focused on issues, people and events across Southern Oregon and Northern California. Natalie Golay is the program's senior producer, Charlie Zimmermann is the assistant producer, and Mike Green hosts the show.