Saskatoon sees COVID-19 viral load decrease amid rises elsewhere
Global News
Wastewater numbers in Saskatchewan warned that North Battleford's RNA load indicates that infections are higher than the value recorded in the previous week and should be watched.
The weekly COVID-19 wastewater numbers for Saskatchewan show a decrease in Saskatoon, but a rise in both North Battleford and Prince Albert.
The report, put together by the University of Saskatchewan and Global Water Futures researchers, shows a 54.3 per cent drop in the RNA load found in Saskatoon’s wastewater for the reporting period up to Nov. 30.
It was noted that this is the third successive decrease in the viral load, and that this decrease indicates a reduction in infections.
The report added that the concentration of the viral particles found in the wastewater was considered medium.
Proportions of the RNA load were divided up with 42.1 per cent being attributed to the BA.5 variant. The BA.2.75 variant made up 4.8 per cent of the viral load, and other Omicron variants were attributed to the remaining 53.1 per cent.
The report noted that the R346T mutation, which is one of the key signatures of the BQ.1 variant and its sub-lineages, was found in all the samples across Saskatchewan, meaning that it’s likely present.
Prince Albert saw a 81.3 per cent rise in the RNA load found in its wastewater for the reporting period up to Nov. 28.
Last week’s numbers couldn’t be posted for Prince Albert, but the report said this week’s numbers indicate that the infections are not going down yet.
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