Wastewater testing shows Omicron subvariant circulating in Waterloo region

The University of Waterloo's wastewater monitoring shows an Omicron subvariant has been detected in Waterloo region.

The BA.2 subvariant appears to be even more transmissible than the original Omicron mutation of COVID-19, says Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, medical officer of health for the Region of Waterloo, but there's no evidence that it is a more severe mutation.

The samples came from the water treatment plant in the City of Waterloo on Jan. 4 and 9 and from the University of Waterloo water treatment plant on Jan. 18, researcher Meghan Fuzzen told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.They were independently confirmed by two different out-of-province labs.

Right now, Omicron makes up 100 per cent of all COVID-19 virus tested in the Region of Waterloo's wastewater, said Fuzzen's partner,professor Mark Servos. The BA.2 variant is showing up in very low amounts for now.

"We really don'tknow, from Europe and other places, what will happen. Will it start to take over like some of the the other variants, or if it will just stay in the background?"

Not yet found in PCR tests

Public health hasn't been able to pin down the BA.2 subvariant to a particular individual; since December,PCR testing has largely been limited to healthcare and congregate care workers, people who are homeless or who are in hospital, Indigenous people, public school students in select circumstances, unvaccinated seniors, pregnant people and first responders.

"Due to the fact that testing is limited ... [the new subvariant] just hasn't been detected in anyone that has been tested yet," said Wang at a media briefing on Friday. "But because we have wastewater monitoring we are able to get earlier indications that it's already here."

MUN virologist talks about a new COVID-19 subvariant in Canada

3 years ago

Duration 5:31

Memorial University virologist Hannah Wallace talks about a new COVID-19 variant of concern Omicron subvariant BA.2

Wang said there's no evidence the BA.2 subvariant responds any differently to vaccines than the original Omicron variant.

"This was not unexpected, but underlies the importance of continuing to increase our community immunity through vaccination," said Wang.

To that end, 28 mobile clinics are planned across Waterloo region this week: at shelters, schools, community centres and the townships.

"That's a huge number for us," said Vickie Murray, vaccine lead for Region of Waterloo Public Health.

Community-based vaccination clinics

Murray said the community-based clinics are a natural evolution of the region's vaccine plan.

"The mass immunization clinics worked for some people,and it's a really good way to get a lot of vaccine out really quickly. But we know that doesn't work for everybody," said Murray.

Offering vaccine clinics in places like community centres allows the region to reach people who may not have easy access to transportation to get to a mass vaccination clinic.

Public health continues to offer vaccines on a walk-in basis at all its mass vaccination clinics in Waterloo region.