The COVID-19 viral load in Saskatoon’s wastewater has risen 98 per cent in the week leading up to February 16th, compared to the previous week. That’s according to the weekly update from the University of Saskatchewan’s Global Institute for Water Security. The viral RNA load in North Battleford has increased 34 per cent, and Prince Albert’s has gone down by almost 64 per cent.

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan determined they could measure viral load in wastewater to determine impending surges in numbers of active cases. Those values will precede increases in new positive cases by seven to 10 days. Most people with COVID-19 start shedding SARS-CoV-2 through their stool within 24 hours of being infected.

As of Tuesday across Canada, there had been 43, 368 cases of COVID-19 reported, however Saskatchewan’s numbers are unavailable because the province is now doing weekly updates instead of daily. Today (Thursday) will be the most recent available update on COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations in Saskatchewan from the Government of Saskatchewan.

The map below this map is for the week up to Feb 22