Toxicologist predicts Saskatoon's COVID-19 case count to fall 90% in coming weeks
A University of Saskatchewan researcher expects that Saskatoon's COVID-19 daily new case count will drop to about 15-20 around the first or second week of February.
"They won't completely go away. But the numbers will be very low compared to what they are now," said toxicologist John Giesy, whose team measures coronavirus RNA in Saskatoon's wastewater.
The province reported 235 new cases in Saskatoon on Monday. His projection represents about a 91 per cent drop from that mark.
However, he said he can't predict how many people will end up in hospital.
Traces of Omicron RNA in Saskatoon's wastewater began appearing around the third week of December and peaked over the holidays, then started to decline. The numbers spiked again when school started after the holiday break and are now heading back down, he said.
Traces dropped by 39 per cent in his team's weekly report on Monday.
Omicron continues to be the dominant variant of concern in Saskatoon’s wastewater; Delta has become undetectable.
His projection is based on Saskatchewan being about two weeks behind Ontario, he said.
The rate of active cases of COVID-19 in Ontario was 456 per 100,000 people as of Sunday. Saskatchewan's figure was 1,126 per 100,000 people.
Giesy also said Public Health has contacted him about using the researchers' data to fill in the gaps in the official case counts after changes to testing procedures.
The province now recommends people who are asymptomatic or those with mild symptoms opt for a rapid antigen test rather than a PCR test, in an effort to preserve testing capacity.
Viral RNA load in Prince Albert’s wastewater has decreased by 58 per cent and North Battleford has seen an 8.1 per cent drop.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
ArriveCan contractor to be admonished by MPs in extraordinarily rare parliamentary display
Enacting an extraordinarily rarely used parliamentary power, MPs have summoned an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to be admonished publicly for failing to answer their questions.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.