The proof is usually in the pudding, but for COVID-19, the proof might be in the poop.

A new study from researchers at Yale University has determined that genetic code found in sewage sludge could be a leading indicator of COVID-19 outbreaks, anticipating the presence of the virus by seven days and hospital admissions by three days.

The research, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, determined that concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage sludge from a New Haven, Conn., wastewater treatment facility could be used to model the number of COVID-19 cases in the area.

"We report a time course of SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in primary sewage sludge during the Spring COVID-19 outbreak in a northeastern U.S.

"SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in all environmental samples and, when adjusted for the time lag, the virus RNA concentrations were highly correlated with the COVID-19 epidemiological curve (R2=0.99) and local hospital admissions (R2 =0.99).

SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations were a seven-day leading indicator ahead of compiled COVID-19 testing data and led local hospital admissions data by three days.".

They then compared the concentration of the virus' RNA and compared that data to COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the surrounding area to come up with their findings.

Peccia acknowledged that although the sewage sludge data is "a unique piece of information," it only tells part of the story.

Connecticut has been one of the most affected states in the country, with 40,873 confirmed COVID-19 cases, resulting in 3,742 deaths!