It's not over yet: COVID-19 presence remains high in Saskatchewan: wastewater analysis

The COVID-19 viral load remains high in Saskatchewan, according to researchers who analyzewastewater in cities across the province.

Researchers at the University of Regina say the viral load in Regina's wastewater has increased slightly, part of a trend that has seen a small but steady, week-over-weekincrease in the viral load in the city since July.

The U of R researchers have been sampling the city's wastewater for the presence of COVID-19 since Aug. 2020.

Before the Omicron wave, the highest viral load levelsin Regina's wastewater were recorded inmid-December 2020 and April 2021, coinciding withhigh infection rates in the Regina area, according to researchers.

The data collected during the latest reporting period shows that COVID-19 levels have increased slightly from the previous week and remain high.

It's a similar story in other major centres in Saskatchewan.

The figures in Prince Albert, North Battlefordand Saskatoon remain high, continuing a trend that has developed over the past month, the University of Saskatchewan's latest wastewater analysis shows.

In North Battleford the viral load increased by 51.3 perfrom the previous reporting period, while the viral load in Saskatoon increased by 5.6 per cent.

The viral load in Prince Albert, while still considered high, has decreased by 25.3 per cent.