The Governor announced Friday that New York state will conduct a pilot program to test wastewater for COVID-19.

Newburgh is on the short list of communities that will see that expanded testing.

$500,000 will fund the pilot testing. The wastewater is meant to give an early indication if a spike in positive cases may be looming in a community.

Wastewater is not thought to spread the virus, but the program could allow resources to arrive for any outbreaks sooner rather than later.

Limited sampling for the virus has already begun in the Syracuse area, and the whole program could expand again if this pilot is a success.

In the Hudson Valley, Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney has been advocating for a similar program at the federal level.