A graph supplied by the Cummings School of Medicine outlines the amount of COVID-19 material found in samples of wastewater collected in Medicine Hat since June 2020. Many cities in the province are currently showing a downward trend while the Hat's is spiking. - SUBMITTED IMAGE
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A key measure of COVID prevalence in communities is on a downward trend in many Alberta towns and cities, but not Medicine Hat, where it is rising sharply.
Sample testing of sewage provides researchers a broad view of how much material related to the coronavirus is circulating. It is used as a forward indicator of expected new cases in the short term.
Top Government of Alberta officials have said its general decline in 20 locations where utility officials provide samples is a sign the peak of the fifth wave in the province may have been reached.
However, in Medicine Hat the readings are rising fast, according to data published by the Cummings School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, along with increases in Red Deer and Fort McMurray.
Premier Jason Kenney has repeatedly said health measures to help stop the spread of the Omicron variant and resulting hospitalizations could be eased by the end of the month, though members of his caucus have signalled they expect that to happen much sooner.
Local waste water samples showed increased numbers beginning in mid-December to the first week of January, before it moderated two weeks ago.
Since Jan. 18 however, the figure has risen by 400 per cent, and on Jan. 31 was nearing peak readings in mid-September when the area was hit with the hardest portion of the fourth wave.
Levels in Calgary and Edmonton began generally dropping in the middle of January and Lethbridge’s figures waned after a Jan. 24 high point.
Sampling, testing and analysis done by the universities of Calgary and Alberta also show values plateauing in Taber, Strathmore, Drumheller, and up slightly in Grande Prairie.
The publicly available data can be found on the Cummings School of Medicine website or its dedicated tracking site (covid-tracker.chi-csm.ca).
