Houston sewer analysis shows that COVID variants are spreading rapidly in the UK, a week after the mask mandate in Texas was lifted

The Houston Department of Health has made a disturbing discovery in the city’s sewer system. According to NBC News affiliate KPRC-TV, wastewater samples collected in Houston last month showed that the coronavirus variant first discovered in the UK is spreading rapidly. The variant was allegedly found at 31 of the city’s 39 wastewater treatment plants on February 22 – two weeks before that it was only found at 21 of the plants. The discovery was announced a week after the Texas government, Greg Abbott, said it planned to end the state’s masking mandate and pressure all businesses to reopen fully. “The presence of the British variant in our wastewater shows that it is actively spreading in our city,” said David Persse, chief medical officer of the city of Houston. “This is another clear indication that we need to keep on masking, doing social distance, washing our hands, getting tested and, if possible, getting vaccinated.”