University Says Waste Water At Residence Tests Positive For COVID-19

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Wastewater testing on the University of Windsor campus has found a sample from the Alumni Hall Residence was positive for COVID-19, the University announced Sunday morning.

In a news release, officials say as part of the University of Windsor’s ongoing efforts to monitor and screen for COVID-19, daily wastewater samples across campus are taken.

The University says that they immediately enacted COVID-19 protections and protocols. As a precautionary measure, residents of Alumni Hall are now under a ‘modified quarantine’ and are being asked to avoid close contact with others and to follow all public health measures.

Working with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, on-site testing will be provided to Alumni Hall residents starting on Sunday morning.

Student Health Services are also available to provide additional supports.

The testing of wastewater for COVID-19 is part of a project led by Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER) executive director Mike McKay. The University says the GLIER team has been collecting and testing wastewater samples from across the region and in other areas of Ontario since the beginning of the pandemic. It is now part of a broader network of labs monitoring sewage for early virus detection.

“Early detection of a potential COVID-19 case on campus allows the University to support rapid testing and tracing practices to help reduce the potential of further spread,” said Dr. Chris Houser, Dean of Science. “GLIER’s project allows us to be proactive in our efforts to mitigate the impact COVID-19 on campus.”