A number of different agencies are setting up a new programme to monitor people's poo to detect Covid from May.
The national wastewater monitoring programme has been set up.
Staff will measure for the levels of Covid in local communities.
It will measure for the presence of it at 68 catchment areas across the country.
Other countries have used this kind of system efficiently to track the virus prevalence in local areas.
Can you IMAGINE getting a letter from the poo-monitor, telling you to go for a Covid test? https://t.co/w21tPfuLdM
— Tom Douglas (@TomDouglas95) April 30, 2021
Covid Checks On Poo "Important Early Warning Sign"
Dr John Cuddihy's the Director of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
He says, by lab techs analysing the genetic material can catch asymptomatic cases.
Additionally, Dr. Cuddihy believes this will offer, "an important early warning sign," of increasing virus levels.
Finally he says the system will help inform management which areas could need extra testing.
