O3256: Surveillance of Wastewater for COVID-19 in Schools to Predict Absenteeism and Community Infection Rates

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater surveillance by measuring the virus (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater was used to assess disease spread in communities. Wastewater can contain traces of the virus shed by infected individuals, even if they are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Thus, by monitoring levels of the virus in wastewater, public health officials can detect outbreaks early, estimate the number of infections in a community, and track the effectiveness of control measures. This information can help guide public health responses and inform decisions about the allocation of resources to combat the spread of the virus. The objective of this study was to assess whether the wastewater surveillance of the virus in schools can be used as a tool to track COVID-19 outbreaks and absenteeism.

Methods: Wastewater samples were collected and analyzed from 9 Title I schools in Miami-Dade County representing 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. Virus concentration in the school wastewater samples was compared with school absenteeism rates (as a proxy of infected students) and community level COVID-19. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 data were consolidated from measurements conducted at the County’s regional wastewater treatment plants (WWTP).

Results: In the Spring of 2022 when quarantine measures were in place, there was a strong association between wastewater SARS-CoV-2 and school absenteeism rate. However, this relationship became insignificant in Fall 2022 (Figure 1a). However, when evaluating larger regional populations, SARS-CoV-2 in school wastewater samples showed a strong positive association with community level COVID-19 infection (Figure 1b).

Conclusion: Surveillance of wastewater in schools is a promising tool for predicting outbreaks and correlations with absenteeism and community infection rates. By monitoring the levels of viruses and bacteria in school wastewater, scientists and health officials can gain insight into the prevalence of infectious diseases within the school population and local community. This information can be used to detect outbreaks before they become widespread, allowing for targeted interventions and prevention strategies. Additionally, monitoring of wastewater over time can help school officials track trends in the amount of virus shedding and predict future outbreaks, allowing them to plan for more effective control measures to prevent or reduce absenteeism, including increased testing and contact tracing. However, it's important to note that surveillance of wastewater alone cannot predict absenteeism with certainty, as other factors such as individual and family decisions on attending school and exposure outside of school can also play a role. Overall, surveillance of wastewater in schools provides a valuable tool for monitoring the health and wellbeing of students and staff and can help to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.