The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have awarded almost $10 million in COVID-19 wastewater surveillance grants and equipment.
That funding and lab equipment will support 20 local pilot projects to test for the coronavirus in wastewater across the state, according to a news release.
Launched in October, the three-month pilot program supports local public health efforts to coordinate with counties, universities and other institutions across the state on COVID-19 wastewater testing programs.
These local efforts have the potential to be an early warning system for the spread of the virus within a specific community or for outbreaks on college campuses and at other densely-populated facilities.
Funding comes from the state’s allocation of federal money under the CARES Act.
