Researchers with the University of Saskatchewan who are monitoring the viral load of COVID-19 in the wastewater of Saskatoon, Prince Albert and North Battleford say levels remain low and constant. Saskatoon’s numbers are up 11.5 per cent, North Battleford 127 per cent and Prince Albert 36 per cent.

Researchers say while North Battleford and Prince Albert saw bigger increases, the jumps were minor and not indicative of a change in the trend which continues to be very low. The values this past week are among the lowest seen since the beginning of the Omicron wave back in January.

The USask group will continue to test the waters three times week, however if the loads drop below their detection limit, they’ll likely sample the waters once a week before increasing the rate of sampling in the fall when students return to school. Omicron BA.2 accounted for 100 per cent of the viral load in all three cities.