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There's coronavirus in our sewers - and that might be a good thing

caption: Richard Vialva, a medical assistant with International Community Health Services, holds a coronavirus testing swab on Thursday, April 16, 2020, at the ICHS testing area in Shoreline. "Our whole country is filled with people who are unsure of their status or can't get tested," said Vialva. "I hope we're giving people some relief."
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Richard Vialva, a medical assistant with International Community Health Services, holds a coronavirus testing swab on Thursday, April 16, 2020, at the ICHS testing area in Shoreline. "Our whole country is filled with people who are unsure of their status or can't get tested," said Vialva. "I hope we're giving people some relief."
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer

Like microplastics and opioids, COVID-19 is the latest societal scourge to make its way into our sewers.

David Hirschberg, founder of life sciences nonprofit RAIN Incubator, says that’s a useful epidemiological indicator that could help in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

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