USask environmental toxicologist John Giesy. (Photo: Submitted)

COVID-19 levels in Saskatoon’s wastewater point to upcoming increase in cases

Posted on

New tool developed at the University of Saskatchewan to detect virus levels.

University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers and partners at the City of Saskatoon (CoS) and the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) have developed a COVID-19 early warning system by sampling and testing the city’s wastewater for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Infected people shed virus traces through their feces, often even before COVID-19 symptoms are apparent. Using a technique developed at USask, the team has found through lab analysis of wastewater samples from Saskatoon’s municipal treatment plant that changes to the total amount of virus circulating in the city’s wastewater happen about one week ahead of changes indicated by case counts at COVID testing centres….

https://news.usask.ca/articles/research/2020/covid-19-levels-in-saskatoons-wastewater-point-to-upcoming-increase-in-cases.php

Read More Impact Stories

Posted on
For patients with neuroblastoma, one of the most common solid tumours in children, disease outcomes can vary widely. Some children [...]
Posted on
McMaster researchers have developed the first COVID rapid test for community wastewater, which will make early warning surveillance of infectious [...]
Posted on
Study shows limited impact of pandemic on mental health, underlining strength of human resilience. COVID-19 has taken a relatively limited [...]