NORTH BATTLEFORD ‑ After posting a decline in previous reporting, the latest analysis of North Battleford wastewater has shown a spike in both the virus load as well as for the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
According to the Global Institute for Water Security average of three individual measurements from Jan. 15 to 21, the wastewater virus load is 119,636 per 100 ml, up 319.2 per cent from the previous period measured.
For the Omicron variant the number is 184,026 per 100 ml, up 1,130.6 per cent from the previous period.
Numbers are also up for both Saskatoon and Prince Albert. The viral load is up 58.5 per cent in Saskatoon and 358.4 per cent in Prince Albert. The Omicron variant is also up 127.6 per cent in Saskatoon and 455.4 per cent in Prince Albert.
The analysis was conducted by Global Water Futures and University of Saskatchewan researchers to monitor for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. They note increases in the viral signal in the wastewater are roughly indicative of increases in new positive cases in the following seven to 10 days.
