NORTH BATTLEFORD - The latest analysis of wastewater in North Battleford shows a major increase in the city’s viral load.
According to the latest surveillance report from the Global Institute for Water Security, for the reporting period ending April 1, the viral RNA load in North Battleford’s wastewater has increased by 250.3 per cent, based on averages of three individual daily measurements, compared to the weekly average of the previous week.
The viral load is reported at 142,499 per 100 ml.
The proportions of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA load were Omicron BA.1: 18 per cent, Omicron BA.2: 80.1 per cent, and other lineages two per cent. The Omicron variant is estimated at 183,426 per 100 ml, up 369.5 per cent.
According to the report, the increase is indicative of an increase in SARS-CoV-2 infections in North Battleford, which may or may not be reflected by new case numbers in upcoming weeks.
All data has been shared with Saskatchewan’s health authorities. According to the Global Institute for Water Security, the viral wastewater signal is a leading indicator of impending surges in numbers of active cases that precede increases in new positive cases by seven to 10 days.
