Okotoks and High River are among the 25 towns and cities whose wastewater is being tested for COVID-19.

The University of Calgary and the University of Alberta have teamed up to monitor wastewater at 17 treatment plants across the province to test for genetic traces of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Dr. Casey Hubert with the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary, says it's a thorough method that provides an objective look at geographic areas.

"This is a really inclusive and thorough way to monitor for levels of COVID-19 in the community. It doesn't discriminate between those who are tested and those who are not tested, for example, it doesn't discriminate between those who have symptoms and those who don't. It really captures everybody who contributes to the wastewater, which is basically everybody who's pooping."

It's especially helpful with communities where less clinical testing is happening or where testing just isn't available.

Wastewater testing also provides faster results than clinical tests.

"We see a really good correlation between wastewater and clinical cases. What's especially interesting is that that correlation is strongest when our data comes six days before the clinical data. What that means is that wastewater provides a prediction of where the clinical cases are heading."

The more up-to-date info gives a better idea of where trends are heading, which is especially important when new variants emerge.

Samples are taken every three weeks, with data shared publicly on the COVID Data Tracker website.

The website has High River data dating back to late July of 2020, whereas Okotoks' data only goes back as far as Nov. 18.

Samples from Okotoks, Fort McMurray, Airdrie, Canmore, Calgary, Drumheller, Strathmore, and Taber are being monitored by U of C researchers, whereas U of A researchers are handling High River, Grande Prairie, Cold Lake, Fort Saskatchewan, Edmonton, Red Deer, Banff, Medicine Hat, and Lethbridge's samples.

 

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