In the week ending on February 2nd, the Global Institute for Water Security on the USask campus measured a 19 per cent increase of COVID-19 in Saskatoon’s wastewater, compared to the week prior. Omicron continues to be the dominant variant, with 100 per cent of the viral RNA load, while the Delta variant has become undetectable.

The Global Institute’s website includes a 28 per cent increase in Prince Albert’s wastewater, for the week leading up to January 31st, and that’s compared to a 358 per cent increase the week prior. North Battleford’s wastewater has a viral load increase of over 29 per cent, for the week leading up to January 28th, and 100 per cent of it is the Omicron variant.

The website explains that a viral increase in the wastewater is roughly indicative of increases in new cases in the following week or so, and the same goes for decreases.