Researchers with the University of Saskatchewan say Saskatoon’s viral COVID-19 RNA load is up 5.6 per cent this week while Prince Albert is down over 25 per cent and North Battleford wastewater data shows that city has seen an increase of over 51 per cent.

This increase in viral RNA load indicates an increase in infections for Saskatoon, which is consistent with the overall trend over the last month. While Prince Albert’s load is down this week, overall the presence of COVID in that city has been up in the recent past.

Omicron is the COVID-19 strain that is appearing in all three communities. In Saskatoon the most prevelant form of Omicron is BA.5 at 47.6 per cent while multiple variants of BA.2 make up the other half. In Prince Albert it is 97 per cent some form of the BA.2 variant and in North Battleford one of the BA.2 variants make up three quarters of the COVID-19 in wastewater while BA.5 is present in 24.7 per cent of wastewater tested.

Calculations are based on a comparison to the weekly average of the previous week which was tested in each community.