City of Waterloo

Wastewater testing shows Omicron subvariant circulating in Waterloo region

Wastewater testing shows Omicron subvariant circulating in Waterloo region

The University of Waterloo's wastewater monitoring shows an Omicron subvariant has been detected in Waterloo region. The BA.2 subvariant appears to be even more transmissible than the original Omicron mutation of COVID-19, says Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, medical officer of health for the Region of Waterloo, but there's no evidence that it is a more severe mutation. The samples came from the water treatment plant in the City of Waterloo on Jan. 4 and 9 and from the University of Waterloo water treatment plant on Jan. 18, researcher Meghan Fuzzen told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo. They were independently confirmed by two different out-of-province labs.