Sewage is being tested for coronavirus in England in a bid to get a "head start" on where local outbreaks will happen next. Sampling waste water for fragments of the virus is being trialled at 44 sewage treatment works across England - which cover 25% of the population.
And Environment Secretary George Eustice claimed it might show "where new outbreaks are likely to occur". Data gathered by the testing is being used to refine the approach and feed into work of the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC), officials said.
The World Health Organisation has said there is currently no evidence that coronavirus has been transmitted through sewerage systems.