(Submitted photo/Saskatchewan Health Authority)

By Derek Craddock

COVID IN WASTEWATER

Latest wastewater report shows big drop in COVID levels

May 17, 2022 | 12:00 PM

COVID-19 levels appear to be dropping drastically in Prince Albert, North Battleford, and Saskatoon.

That’s according to the latest weekly update from the University of Saskatchewan, in its continuing study of the community’s wastewater.

In the latest numbers, released Monday, Prince Albert saw its viral caseload drop 65.7 per cent as of May 9, compared to a drop of 58 per cent the week before.

University researchers note this is the second successive decline in the viral load, but the numbers are still large compared to levels measured in December 2021 and the first week of January 2022 before Omicron became the dominant strain.

North Battleford saw an even bigger drop in levels in the last reporting period, with the viral load declining by just over 90 per cent. Meanwhile, Saskatoon’s viral load dropped by 85 per cent.

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The latest report showed Omicron is still the dominant strain in all three cities, but those numbers are also on the decline.

Prince Albert saw its Omicron levels drop 79 per cent, while North Battleford and Saskatoon had drops of 93.3 and 90.9 per cent respectively.

Researchers point out these decreases are merely indicators of anticipated decreases in new positive cases. In its weekly epidemiology report on May 12, the province reported 710 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, a drop from 765 the previous week.

That included 42 cases in the North Central region and 65 in the North West.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @pa_craddock