Sault Ste. Marie wastewater sampling shows Omicron at its peak
New data from a wastewater sampling program indicates Sault Ste. Marie has reached its highest peak when it comes to the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
Wastewater from the city's east-end treatment plant has been tested weekly by Algoma Public Health since early on into the pandemic, accounting for over 50,000 people.
Surveillance data from mid-December, January and February showed the seven-day moving averages have steadily increased.
So it did peak last week, it was the highest we've seen so far since we started the wastewater initiative," said Amanda Perri, Epidemiologist at Algoma Public Health. "We have been monitoring the situation closely because of it."
The indication is that COVID-19 is as prevalent as ever in Sault Ste. Marie.
City of Sault Ste. Marie officials have been closely monitoring the results weekly, but aren't yet a cause for major concern.
"What we've seen throughout the pandemic, is that northern communities are typically delayed by two weeks when it comes to trends in southern Ontario," said Malcolm White, city CAO. "With evidence showing it's plateaued there, we are hopeful that it has peaked here and as sampling goes on, we will see a reduction in the wastewater."
Some evidence of that is already being seen. According to Perri, early results this week indicate a decrease, but it's too early to tell if that's actually the case.
Still, Perri said wastewater treatment needs to be looked at through a larger lens than just the results themselves.
"In addition to wastewater, we continue to look at the hospitalizations, the ICUs, the mortality, which seems to be pretty steady for Algoma," Perri added.
Officials from the health unit will continue to evaluate the situation, but as of right now, there are no plans for increased restrictions in Sault Ste. Marie.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.