Sewer testing shows delta variant is in St. Louis area as cases trend up So far, the Delta variant is not hitting St. Louis like it is the Springfield area. But testing of St. Louis sewers confirms the virus is here Author: Casey Nolen Updated: 10:56 PM CDT July 6, 2021 ST. LOUIS — While much of life in St. Louis seems back to normal, health officials are warning what's happening in southwest Missouri is headed our way. Doctors say that right now the more contagious more severe Delta variant is doing more harm in southwest Missouri than COVID did in the last wave of the pandemic. And Delta is already in St. Louis.