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Mumbai: BMC's Wastewater Sample Survey Hits A Roadblock Indicating Low COVID-19 Prevalence

With this, the scientific probe has hit a roadblock indicating low prevalence of coronavirus in Mumbai as less than 50 of the 300 wastewater samples tested for coronavirus via RT-PCR returned positive.

Mumbai: BMC's Wastewater Sample Survey Hits A Roadblock Indicating Low COVID-19 Prevalence
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According to a latest reports revealed by the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, nearly 10-15 per cent wastewater samples have shown the presence of COVID-19. With this, the scientific probe has hit a roadblock indicating low prevalence of coronavirus in Mumbai as less than 50 of the 300 wastewater samples tested for coronavirus via RT-PCR returned positive.

The civic body is now increasing the number of locations and will collect a greater number of wastewater samples from pumping stations, areas near dumping grounds, and hospitals. However, genome sequencing has been delayed as a minimum of 375 positive samples are required for the exercise, said BMC official Suresh Kakani.

Explaining about the process, he further stated that the water samples are being collected from 19 places in Mumbai such as pumping stations, dumping grounds, and manholes. The machine can run 375 samples at once for genome sequencing, but the viral load of the samples should be high, he added.

Earlier, they had collected the samples from 16 areas in Mumbai mainly near hospitals and manholes.

Health experts have said that continuous monitoring of wastewater samples for COVID-19 will play a key role in the coming days.

Reports stated that since the inauguration of a genome sequencing machine in BMC’s Kasturba Hospital, the corporation has carried out 7 of the 10 surveys for genome sequencing to understand the pattern of spread in the community.

For those unversed, the civic body, in March, had decided to undertake genome sequencing of sewage water samples to monitor the presence or emergence of the variants. This development comes amid a significant drop in the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 and getting hospitalised in Mumbai.

Also Read: COVID-19: BMC Sends Sample To Union Govt Lab For Reconfirmation Of XE Variant

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