Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan say COVID-19 viral RNA load in wastewater continued to decrease in all three cities in the most recent week of testing and are at the lowest value since the beginning of 2022. While values are greater in Saskatoon, in Prince Albert and North Battleford levels are near their limit of detection in wastewater.

In Saskatoon the viral load is down 50.7 per cent in the reporting period up to June 22nd. In Prince Albert it is down 82.6 per cent up to June 20th and in North Battleford has dropped 81.1 per cent in the week measured up to June 17.   The researchers say that if the trend continues in Prince Albert and North Battleford, within two weeks they will not be able to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater.

They are now working on being able to differentiate and identify the BA-5 variant of Omicron which is now being found in clinical samples in the province and they will be monitoring for BA-5 which is taking off in the UK.  The purpose of tracking Omicron BA-5 is to determine whether it is more infectious or causes more severe illness.  The information the researchers have so far indicate it can evade immunity either from vaccination or previous infections so more people are likely to be re-infected.   In the United States, the Centres for Disease Control is predicting an outbreak with Omicron BA-5 in the U.S. this fall.