Faced with the cost of Covid tests, scientists are leaning towards other less expensive means of monitoring the evolution of the virus, such as the analysis of wastewater.
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“We will not be able to do tests” so often forever. “The cost of testing in January is over 1.6 billion”explained on franceinfo Vincent Maréchal, professor of virology at Sorbonne University, one of the co-founders of the Obépine project (Epidemiological observatory in wastewater), two days from the end of restrictions in France, and more generally from the lifting of health restrictions in Europe.
Faced with this amount, he estimates that he will “have to find other cheaper tools” and tip “monitoring in wastewater” like a “excessively attractive tool financially” : “We spent 300,000 euros in January to follow nearly 40% of the population” by analyzing wastewater. Analyzing wastewater makes it possible to quantify the circulation of a virus in a geographical area and makes it possible to follow its evolution from one region to another. It is necessary “move towards tools that will allow epidemics to be monitored at a lower cost”he says.
In addition, the analysis of wastewater would affect a wider panel than the tests: in fact, the majority of people who are tested do so because they have symptoms, which partly excludes people who are asymptomatic but contagious.