New Wastewater Data Expected to Provide a Much More Accurate Picture of the Spread of COVID in Alberta | The Canadian News

New figures are expected to be released on Friday, providing Alberta’s policy makers with a reliable and comprehensive picture of the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the province.

The University of Calgary has been collecting and analyzing sewage samples for traces of the virus since May 2020. Since then, that research has expanded to a pan-Alberta network, with generalized data currently testing 24 communities from Fort MacMurray to Lethbridge.

And while PCR testing has traditionally been a key driver of public policy in previous waves of the pandemic, reduced access to provincial testing and increased options for home testing mean that positive case counts are high. much less accurate.

Last week, Alberta’s chief medical officer for health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, told Albertans that PCR testing for the novel coronavirus would be limited to groups at risk, including long-term care residents and health workers. The average Albertan is asked to use rapid personal tests if they are symptomatic or if they are a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. But the government does not keep track of personal rapid tests.

“We’re still going to get test data, but because so many rapid tests are being done now, we can’t compare,” said Dr. Chris Mody, who chairs the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Cumming School. of Medicine of the University of Calgary. “It’s like comparing apples to oranges.”

3:47Albertans were asked to get tested for COVID-19, as the province reserves PCR testing for high-risk groups

Ashlee Fedyk was lucky enough to get quick proofs before a Christmas gathering.

“Unfortunately, we went through all of our rapid tests before we started having symptoms,” said Fedyk. “And then my family went back to Saskatchewan and did the official tests, and all three tested positive there.”

Despite having all the tell-tale symptoms, Fedyk has not yet been able to get a PCR test, which means that his case, like many others, is not yet documented by the province.

“Technically, I do not have a positive result because I do not have access to the tests.”

That’s part of the reason the province now relies more and more on wastewater testing. Typically, that data is updated three times a week.

And although the results currently displayed by the Health Informatics Center show another increase in the spread of COVID-19, the most recent data was taken from December 19-22.

“The difficulty we are experiencing right now, which we anticipated, was that the Christmas season was challenging to get the job done because individual facilities are working in crews and their ability to collect samples is limited,” said project leader Michael Parkins from Cumming School of Medicine. “Our shipping companies have very different schedules. Therefore, we are only doing one sample report per week, until Christmas. Next week, we go through three again.

The latest new test results are expected to be released on Friday.