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North Battleford

Wastewater study shows COVID trending down in Saskatoon, increasing in Prince Albert and North Battleford

Wastewater study shows COVID trending down in Saskatoon, increasing in Prince Albert and North Battleford

Analysis of Saskatoon's wastewater reveals the city has likely passed the peak of the pandemic's fifth wave which saw the highly transmissible Omicron variant infect thousands of people each week and push COVID-19 hospitalizations to record-breaking highs across the province. "The concentrations of virus are still greater than they ever were during the fourth wave. After bouncing around a bit, they are trending downward," said John Giesy, a University of Saskatchewan professor and principal investigator for Global Water Futures.

Evidence of Omicron subvariant BA.2 likely detected in Saskatoon

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.

COVID-19 wastewater study shows decrease in Sask. cities

COVID-19 wastewater study shows decrease in Sask. cities

New data from studies at the University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan show evidence of COVID-19 decreasing in several cities. In a study released on Monday by the Global Institute for Water Security at the U of S, viral load in three cities (Saskatoon, Prince Albert and North Battleford) has started to decrease after a sharp rise earlier this month. Another study at the U of R also showed levels were dropping in that city.

USask wastewater testing for COVID-19 sets the standard

USask wastewater testing for COVID-19 sets the standard

Just ask University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers Drs. Markus Brinkmann (PhD), John Giesy (PhD) and Kerry McPhedran (PhD), who have been analyzing wastewater and stormwater flows in Saskatoon, Prince Albert, North Battleford, and five First Nations communities, to uncover many of those stories. Their findings encompass everything from infectious diseases to biomarkers for such conditions as diabetes and heart disease, to the consumption of recreational drugs in a community. The analyses can even provide information on such things as how much red meat a community consumes or pinpoint a city block where a crack house is located.

Latest COVID-19 wastewater study shows sharp increases across Sask.

Latest COVID-19 wastewater study shows sharp increases across Sask.

The latest information from researchers at the University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina shows that evidence of COVID-19 continues to increase in wastewater samples. On Monday, researchers at USask's Global Institute for Water Security said samples showed a 810.9 per cent increase in viral RNA load in Prince Albert compared to the previous week.

Newest waste water data indicates explosion in COVID viral load in North Battleford, Prince Albert

Newest waste water data indicates explosion in COVID viral load in North Battleford, Prince Albert

The University of Saskatchewan's waste water statistics have been updated, and they show a huge rise in COVID-19 viral load in each of the three cities it monitors: Saskatoon, North Battleford and Prince Albert. Saskatoon's numbers were up 172 per cent, based on averages of two individual daily measurements in this reporting period, which went up to Jan. 2, according to the University of Saskatchewan's reporting on its website.

Sask. researchers continue to see downward trends in COVID-19 wastewater testing

Sask. researchers continue to see downward trends in COVID-19 wastewater testing

The most recent COVID-19 wastewater study from the University of Saskatchewan shows a drop in the amount of COVID-19 virus in sewage samples taken from Saskatoon, North Battleford and Prince Albert. The Global Institute for Water Security's report released Monday afternoon showed a decrease of 55.8 per cent in viral RNA (Ribonucleic acid) in Prince Albert's wastewater samples compared to the previous reporting period. The most recent testing period for the city was from Nov. 16 through Nov. 22.

Sask. wastewater analysis sees COVID-19 trend downward in two cities

Sask. wastewater analysis sees COVID-19 trend downward in two cities

Two of the three cities being monitored by researchers at the University of Saskatchewan have shown a drop in the amount of the virus that causes COVID-19 in sewage samples taken during the latest testing period. On Monday, the Global Institute for Water Security's report show a decrease of 79 per cent in viral RNA in North Battleford's wastewater when compared to the previous reporting period. The amount of delta variant found in the wastewater has also decreased by 47 per cent from the previous reporting period.

Sask. researchers see downward trends in COVID-19 wastewater testing

Sask. researchers see downward trends in COVID-19 wastewater testing

The most recent COVID-19 wastewater study from the University of Saskatchewan shows a drop in the amount of COVID-19 virus in sewage samples taken from three cities in the province. On Monday, the Global Institute for Water Security's report showed a decrease of 44 per cent in viral RNA (Ribonucleic acid) in Saskatoon's wastewater samples compared to the previous reporting period.

Latest Sask. wastewater studies show COVID-19 spike across province over Thanksgiving weekend

Latest Sask. wastewater studies show COVID-19 spike across province over Thanksgiving weekend

The latest COVID-19 study from the University of Saskatchewan shows a dramatic jump in COVID-19 virus in sewage samples taken from three cities in the province. On Monday, the Global Institute for Water Security's report showed an increase of 109 per cent in viral RNA in Saskatoon's wastewater sample compared to the week before. Similarly, North Battleford showed an increase of 124 per cent and an increase of 61 per cent in Prince Albert.

Wastewater studies show COVID-19 decrease in Saskatoon, increases in Regina, Prince Albert

Wastewater studies show COVID-19 decrease in Saskatoon, increases in Regina, Prince Albert

The latest study of Saskatoon's wastewater has noted a drop in coronavirus particles, which could mean a reduction in new cases. Meanwhile similar studies in other cities in the province saw increases. On Monday, the Global Institute for Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan released its weekly report on wastewater taken from three cities: Saskatoon, North Battleford and Prince Albert. In Saskatoon, researchers found a 16 per cent week-over-week decrease in viral RNA taken from sewage samples from the city's wastewater plant for the period ending Sept. 29.

Researchers doing wastewater testing find COVID-19 spikes in Saskatoon and North Battleford

Researchers doing wastewater testing find COVID-19 spikes in Saskatoon and North Battleford

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.

Sask. researchers see downward trend in COVID-19 wastewater testing, but delta sub-variants detected

Sask. researchers see downward trend in COVID-19 wastewater testing, but delta sub-variants detected

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.

COVID-19 viral load continues to surge in latest wastewater analysis for Saskatoon, North Battleford

COVID-19 viral load continues to surge in latest wastewater analysis for Saskatoon, North Battleford

Evidence of COVID-19 continues to show up in the wastewater of Saskatchewan cities being studied by researchers at the University of Saskatchewan. On Tuesday, the Global Institute for Water Security said it had found a spike in viral RNA in samples taken from Saskatoon and North Battleford's wastewater treatment plants. The study showed a 127 per cent increase in viral load in Saskatoon week over week and a 560 per cent increase in North Battleford. Meanwhile, Prince Albert's showed a 50 per cent week-over-week decrease in viral load in its samples.

Wastewater study finds substantial increases of COVID-19 in three Sask. cities

Wastewater study finds substantial increases of COVID-19 in three Sask. cities

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."

Revisiting North Battleford's water crisis 20 years later

Revisiting North Battleford's water crisis 20 years later

Twenty years after her family became seriously ill from a water-borne parasite, Christine Greer still doesn’t trust what comes out of the tap. The family of four were among an estimated 7,000 people in North Battleford — about half the city’s population — who spent the spring of 2001 incapacitated by severe flu-like symptoms. “I shared a home with my nephew and his wife and my great-nephew,” Greer, 47, recalls. “Even the baby was sick, severely sick. It was a little bit traumatic.

Saskatchewan mental-health hospital to be audited after irregular water tests

Saskatchewan mental-health hospital to be audited after irregular water tests

An independent audit is to be conducted into a mental-health hospital in northwestern Saskatchewan following water tests that showed higher than normal levels of copper and lead, says a government official. Mike Carr, deputy minister of central services, says the province learned Oct. 17 that there were some questions about water quality at the Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford. Water testing at the mental-health facility “showed irregularities and inconsistency in the results that indicate levels of copper or lead may be higher than desirable levels,” Carr said Friday. “It’s been preliminary testing,” he added. “We felt, out of an abundance of caution, we should take steps to ensure that all users of that facility have access to good drinking water.”

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