ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – While Altamonte Springs officials are still detecting multiple variants near the city’s sewer service areas, the viral concentration has lessened substantially, officials said.
The highest concentration of omicron in Altamonte Springs was detected last week, with nearly 99% of the variant found in the sewer service area, data shows.
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According to city manager Frank Martz, as of Monday, the following service areas had reported these levels:
- Altamonte Springs Sewer Service Area = 3,134,547 gene copies per liter
- Casselberry Sewer Service Area = 4,251,025 gene copies per liter
In the Altamonte Springs Sewer Service Area that is a 73% decrease in the viral concentration from last week, when it was 5,574,346 gene copies per liter. Despite that decline, Martz said the numbers are still extremely high — higher than during the delta peak.
“There’s still an enormous amount of virus in our community and the region,” Martz said.
Omicron is still the dominant variant, which makes up about 98% of the virus detected, in both sewer service areas. Strains of the delta and delta plus subvariant were also detected in the wastewater, data shows.
While leaders said the drop in virus levels is good news, Martz warns more data is needed to determine if we’re past the omicron peak.
“We do want to see that trend number going down and the next sample today and the one on Monday will be important to see how the amount of virus is growing or leaving our community,” Martz said.
The Altamonte Springs Sewer Service Area covers that area and portions of unincorporated Seminole County, Longwood, Maitland, Eatonville and Winter Park, whereas the Casselberry Sewer Service Area covers a portion of Casselberry.