Through a partnership between University of Saskatchewan researchers, the City of Saskatoon, and the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Saskatoon wastewater has been tested for the virus causing COVID-19. Residents now have access to the results of the testing. The latest data is available on the USask’s Global Institute for Water Security website.

The testing shows that from April 1st to the 5th, there was an 86% increase in SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA load in Saskatoon’s wastewater compared to the previous week.

The increases in viral RNA load predicted a continued increase in the number of new cases in Saskatoon over seven to 10 days.

Currently, an average of 50% of the viral RNA load in wastewater is contributed by the B.1.1.7 variant of concern. That’s a 285% increase from the previous week’s data. The researchers say this suggests that this variant of concern is spreading, and will likely soon become the predominant one in Saskatoon. Methods for detecting other variants are under development.