At the end of October, work at the University of Saskatchewan showed researchers were working on using wastewater to predict increases in COVID-19 numbers so communities could make as many necessary preparations as possible.

On Thursday, University of Saskatchewan toxicologist Markus Brinkmann says they expect, based on the data they have collected, that COVID-19 case numbers will increase “exponentially” in the next seven days.

“We expect another drastic increase this week and potentially ranging into next week,” he states.

Infected people shed virus traces through their feces often before COVID-19 symptoms are apparent. Changes to the virus amount in wastewater will happen before changes in case counts at COVID testing centres by about one week.

Researchers at the university are expecting 100 to 150 new cases in Saskatoon each day. Brinkmann says if there is no significant change in how many people are spreading the virus, then the trend can be expected to continue.

(CJWW)