City of Cape Canaveral Releases Four Week COVID-19 Wastewater Testing Results

By City of Cape Canaveral // June 20, 2020

COVID-19 DETECTED IN CAPE CANAVERAL sewage

In early May, the City of Cape Canaveral announced that it was taking part in a low-cost four-week program to help map COVID-19 across the United States with a company called Biobot Analytics. (City of Cape Canaveral image)

BREVARD COUNTY • CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – In early May, the City of Cape Canaveral announced that it was taking part in a low-cost four-week program to help map COVID-19 across the United States with a company called Biobot Analytics.

By sampling raw sewage at the Cape Canaveral Wastewater Treatment Facility, the technology detects fragments of the genetic material of the virus from people who are actively shedding the virus in their stool.

The Results:

- Week 1 Report (May 6): Virus concentration per liter of sewage 0 copies.
- Week 2 Report (May 12): Virus concentration per liter of sewage 0 copies.
- Week 3 Report (May 19): Virus concentration per liter of sewage 0 copies.
- Week 4 Report (May 26): Virus concentration per liter of sewage 14,737 copies which correspond to 85 cases of COVID-19.

Due to delays at Biobot, Staff received results of week #2 and #3 on Friday, June 12. On Wednesday, June 17 Staff received results of week #4.

This information was provided to the Brevard County Emergency Operations Center for coordination with County health officials. Case estimates may not match the confirmed case numbers in the community for a variety of reasons.

The fourth week’s higher test result findings coincide with the preparation and launch period of the Demo-2 Mission when large numbers of people gathered to view the liftoff and is not quantitatively associated to resident infections.

Due to the inconsistency of the results and the significant delay between sampling and receipt of the reports, the City is securing additional testing services with a laboratory that provides a faster turnaround time.

Results will continue to be reported to the Brevard Emergency Operations Center for coordination with County health officials.

This is an important reminder that everyone should continue to take COVID-19 very seriously. Please wear a mask whenever possible and social distance yourself from others staying at least six feet away per CDC guidelines.

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