The majority of COVID-19 viral load from wastewater in Saskatoon, Prince Albert and North Battleford is Omicron and its variant BA-2. The Global Institute for Water Security on the USask campus reports on its website that in Saskatoon, almost 86 per cent was the original Omicron variant and almost 14 per cent is its offshoot.

In both Prince Albert and North Battleford, 70 per cent was Omicron BA-2 and almost 27 per cent was the original Omicron variant. The Global Institute says based on the characteristics of Omicron BA-2, it will likely completely overtake the original Omicron variant over the next few weeks, which could mean a bump up in cases during the Omicron wave.

Overall, the COVID-19 viral RNA load in the wastewater in Saskatoon and Prince Albert is up slightly, and it’s down significantly in North Battleford. In Saskatoon, for the week leading up to March 9th, the viral load was up just over 5 per cent. In Prince Albert, it was up 7 per cent and in North Battleford, it was down by just over 34 per cent, following a week with a significant increase of almost 36 per cent.

Saskatoon report from week leading up to March 9th. Prince Albert report from week leading up to March 7th. North Battleford report from week leading up to March 5th.

The Global Institute says when interpreting these data, increases in the viral signal in the wastewater are roughly indicative of increases in new positive cases in the following 7-10 days, and decreases are roughly indicative of anticipated decreases in new positive cases.