Wheeler discusses coronavirus wastewater testing with BDN

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

January 27, 2022 Outreach, UMaine in the News

Robert Wheeler, an associate professor of microbiology at the University of Maine, spoke with the Bangor Daily News about conducting wastewater testing for the virus that causes COVID-19 for the University of Maine System. Wheeler, a member of UMS Science Advisory Board, coordinates the testing for four System campuses — UMaine, University of Southern Maine’s Gorham campus, the University of Maine at Fort Kent and the University of Maine at Presque Isle — as well as for the towns of Orono and Farmington. “I think it’s clear that we are going to need to be on our toes for checking surveillance of SARS-CoV-2,” Wheeler said.