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
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.