“Syracuse University, ESF will test sewage dorm-by-dorm to track coronavirus spread”

David Larsen, an Associate Professor of Public Health in Falk College, was quoted in the Syracuse.com article “Syracuse University, ESF will test sewage dorm-by-dorm to track coronavirus spread”  In addition to testing students on their return to campus in the Fall, the University “plans to routinely test sewage leaving each residence hall to spot signs of the virus before students even become sick. If the testing finds a sudden spike of virus in a dorm’s sewage, SU can start testing students in that building to get a jump on a potential outbreak.” Professor Larsen, who is leading the project, believes that the plan will act as “an early warning system” He said that the University “could see changes in the signal in the wastewater a week before we see a signal in the health care system,” which would help the health department act quickly to prevent further spread.