COVID-19 viral loads are rising once again in the wastewater of several Saskatchewan cities, the most recent data from the University of Saskatchewan shows. Since the summer of 2020, a group of researchers from the U of S have analyzed wastewater samples from Saskatoon, North Battleford and Prince Albert in search of traces of the COVID-19 virus. Prince Albert data from the latest reporting period, which goes up to Sept. 12, showed a 66.2 per cent week-over-week increase in SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA load in the city's wastewater.
Evidence of Omicron subvariant BA.2 likely detected in Saskatoon
A toxicology professor at the University of Saskatchewan believes he has found traces of the Omicron BA.2 subvariant, a potentially more-transmissible form of COVID-19, in samples taken in two cities in the province. The Global Institute for Water Security regularly tests wastewater samples in Saskatoon, Prince Albert and North Battleford for evidence of COVID-19 in an attempt to determine whether case numbers are expected to rise or fall. The findings are then handed over to the provincial government and other researchers.