Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.
Coronavirus particles have spiked in Saskatoon and North Battleford wastewater, according to the latest report from researchers studying it. That means COVID-19 numbers will likely leap in the coming weeks in those cities. Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan continue to monitor the wastewater from three Saskatchewan cities for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
A drop in coronavirus particles in Saskatoon, Prince Albert and North Battleford wastewater might be a promising sign for the upcoming COVID-19 numbers, but a scientist from the University of Saskatchewan says he is still concerned about some of the recent findings. Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan continue to monitor the wastewater from the three cities for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan who study Saskatoon wastewater have found a substantial increase in the amount of COVID-19 in the city. The latest report shows a 45 per cent increase in viral RNA load in Saskatoon water from Aug. 18 to 25 compared to the previous week. "This increase in viral RNA load is indicative of an increase in SARS-CoV-2 infections in Saskatoon," reads the report, "which – in a partially vaccinated population – may or may not be reflected by an increase in case numbers in upcoming weeks."
