Levels of the COVID-19 virus have fallen in Saskatoon, North Battleford and Prince Albert, according to the University of Saskatchewan’s Global Institute for Water Security.
Microbiologist Ayodeji Charles Osunla said in an email that data collected in the week up to July 1 showed the SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA load in Saskatoon’s wastewater had reduced by 53.2 per cent, in Prince Albert by 95.9 per cent, and in North Battleford by 100 per cent.
Saskatoon’s wastewater viral load levels — recorded up until June 28 — remain in the low range, the report said, and were the 109th highest concentration measured in the city since the beginning of the pandemic.
Prince Albert’s viral load also remains in the low range and is the 101st highest recorded, with data collected up until June 19, while North Battleford also remained in the low range — the 96th highest concentration recorded with data collected up until June 23.
Osunla is part of a U of S team measuring COVID-19 through wastewater. People infected with the virus leave traces of it in their feces. By measuring the viral load in a city’s sewage, researchers are able to approximate how many people in that city are infected with COVID-19, even if they don’t know it.
Since Saskatchewan no longer reports daily COVID-19 data and relies on rapid antigen tests for testing in the general population, wastewater data is one of the best indicators available for how the virus is spreading.
The July 1 report was the last one issued by the lab, and Osunla said in the email that the wastewater weekly updates would now be available by requesting them from the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
