Wastewater study shows potential for moderate increases of COVID cases in Saskatoon

We may soon see a moderate increase in COVID-19 cases in Saskatoon.

The study being done by University of Saskatchewan researchers on wastewater is showing a 25 per cent increase in the virus from last week’s study.

The study is also showing that cases involving variants could be decreasing, with those numbers down 18 per cent from last week’s numbers.

The total number of COVID variants found in the wastewater makes up 53 per cent of cases.

The report released Monday says: “The increase in viral RNA load in wastewater is predictive of a moderate increase in the number of new cases in Saskatoon in the upcoming week(s).”

Saskatoon reported 43 new cases on Monday, the highest number in the province.

So far, the researchers at the Global Institute for Water Security have found the B.1.1.7 (United Kingdom) variant of concern and the presence of P.1 (Brazil). B.1.351 (South African) was not present.

The “viral signal” detected in wastewater helps provide population-level estimates of the rate of infection in a city, indicating whether the number of infected people is increasing, decreasing or staying the same.

The researchers say most people with COVID start shedding SARS-CoV-2 through their feces within 24 hours of being infected.

The report says the “viral signal” is a leading indicator of impending surges in the number of active cases by seven to 10 days following a sample collection.