The wastewater virus load for COVID-19 in Saskatoon has increased 87.7 per cent from measurements taken between December 16-22. The omicron variant in the waste water in Saskatoon has gone up 808.2 per cent and now makes up 64.1 per cent of the overall COVID-19 viral load in the city’s wastewater.

For Prince Albert SARS-CoV-2 viral load in waste water has decreased 86.6 per cent but the amount of COVID-19 detected that is the omicron variant has increased 100 per cent. Those measurements were also pre-Christmas taken between December 14-21.

And in North Battleford the viral load has decreased 85.7 per cent while there has been no detection of the Omicron variant in samples taken from December 12-19.

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.