COVID-19 RNA in Saskatoon’s wastewater soared by nearly 750 per cent in early April, according to the University of Saskatchewan researchers who monitor the water.The overall numbers also increased in Prince Albert and North Battleford, as did the amount of the highly transmissible BA.2 subvariant.University of Saskatchewan toxicologist John Giesy, who runs the team that monitors the wastewater in the three cities, said he was not surprised after seeing the numbers increase in Ontario.“It was coming down precipitously and everyone was very optimistic.
You know, the (Ontario) premier opened everything up and then when things turned around,” he said. WHO analyzing 2 new Omicron COVID-19 sub-variants — BA.4 and BA.5 “It’s a function of people letting their guard down.
We go back to business as usual and I think that’s what we’re seeing here.”The viral load in Saskatoon increased 742.9 per cent in the week leading up to April 6 compared with the week prior.
Eighty-nine per cent of the virus detected is the highly transmissible BA.2 Omicron subvariant, up from 70 per cent previously.