Wastewater data reveals new pandemic wave has arrived in London, Ont.
Researchers saw an uptick of infections between June 30 and July 3
Wastewater data in London, Ont. reveals that a new wave of the pandemic is sweeping through the region.
Ontario's COVID-19 science advisory table confirmed Wednesday that the province has officially entered its seventh wave, driven this time by the Omicron BA.5 subvariant. But Western University researcher Chris DeGroot says the writing was already on the wall by the end of last month.
"Based on what we're seeing, I can confidently say that it looks like we are into a new wave. The viral load in wastewater has increased at least tenfold from mid-June," said DeGroot.
DeGroot's research team has been surveilling wastewater in London and surrounding communities since late 2020. The data is based on samples taken three times a week from all five of London's wastewater treatment plants.
The team noticed a decreasing viral load over the month of June, followed by an abrupt spike indicating an increase of infections between June 30 and July 3, he said. The viral load is comparable to levels seen at the end of March and April.
Well, we knew this was coming. The viral load in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LdnOnt?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LdnOnt</a> wastewater has increased substantially from June 30th. I believe it is very safe to say we have entered a new wave locally (trailing other Ontario communities). Mask up everyone. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LdnOntPoopReport?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LdnOntPoopReport</a> <a href="https://t.co/PodSiyfN3n">pic.twitter.com/PodSiyfN3n</a>
—@ct_degrootOntario can likely expect another four to five weeks of this wave, which is now about in its third week. Infections are expected to increase over the next 10 days before beginning to slow.
The province's chief medical officer Dr. Kieran Moore says the province is now reviewing further eligibility for booster doses, and that a decision on that will be made soon.
"If people don't take any precautions, I think we're just going to continue to see these sorts of waves as immunity goes up and down," said DeGroot.
"If we do nothing to stop them, then they can grow to quite a significant level, which has big implications on what happens with hospitals overwhelming the healthcare system."