At the end of October we told you about cutting edge research at the University of Saskatchewan where researchers were working on using waste water to predict increases in COVID-19 numbers so communities could make as many necessary preparations as possible.

Today, USask toxicologist Markus Brinkmann says they expect, based on the data they have collected, the COVID-19 case numbers to increase exponentially in the next seven days. “We expect another drastic increase this week and potentially ranging into next week.”

Infected people shed virus traces through their feces often before COVID-19 symptoms are apparent. Changes to the virus amount in waste water will happen before changes in case counts at COVID testing centres by about one week. They are expecting 100 to 150 new cases in Saskatoon each day. And Brinkmann says if there is no significant change in how many people are spreading the virus, then the trend can be expected to continue.