Okay, so I checked the wastewater again, and it was vastly different. Excluding the latest data, I zoomed again on the same time frame. Upward trends last week are now downward? @GovCanHealth can you please explain?!
I heard back (thanks @GovCanHealth for being speedy & thorough 💕).
Re: discrepancies TL:DR data error & correction
Samples collected by Metro Van & analysed by BCCDC &National Microbiology Laboratory
Winnipeg. BCCDC and NML have slightly different methods (🤔). Periodic checks to see how methods are tracking.
Why is BCCDC and NML wastewater COVID analysis methods different? No standard practice yet, and we have slightly different operational needs (🤔). Working on common standard Canada & internationally (Peanut gallery: This can't happen fast enough!)
PHAC usu has local/provincial agency or academic colleague that is testing the wastewater as well. (@RyanZiels - is @UBCCivilLabs playing verification role?)
Re normalizing to pepper mild mottle virus (so cool - see ref next tweet!)
PHAC said yes, BUT due to reagent issue, had to stop for awhile. This has resumed and, yep, normalization in that way has proven useful.
Public normalization data should be available by end Jun 🥳
Reference to normalizing COVID wastewater sampling to the pepper mild mottle virus is here:
I hope @GovCanHealth appreciates how grateful we are for this data. Several ppl in many provs pull & share, from screenshots (lazy me) to pulling data and replotting, like @anarchodelphis. Some greater clarity on specific data issue would be great.
And, Iona (Vancouver) and Lions Gate (North Shore)
My guess? About as low as it's gonna get and going up soon (see Fraser Valley, Ontario, much of US, UK, Europe - you don't really think we're unicorns, do you?!) #COVIDisNotOver
Oh, and my wastewater COVID level snapshots above were just looking at Omicron (BA.1) wave onward. If you want to get a feel for how high our COVID levels are historically, here you go:
1/ The BC Provincial Accessibility Committee is holding online engagement sessions (links in🧵).
Immunocompromised BCians STILL face barriers to safe access to public spaces inc schools & hospitals. People with #autism #ADHD #cancer #heartdisease & more are less safe, too!
2/ #COVIDisAirborne and #CovidIsNotOver, clearly, as seen by wastewater data & constantly overwhelmed healthcare.
3/ Demand SAFE, accessible indoor spaces for ALL British Columbians, but ESPECIALLY people with disabilities, whether visible or not.
Demand indoor air that transparently meets @ashraenews Standard 241. Demand CAN95 or better respirator masks.
"Finally, as the pandemic has progressed, there have been an increasing number of high profile publications suggesting that aerosol transmission of COVID-19 is plausible."
Translation: Actual aerosol experts keep telling us #COVIDisAirborne, and we keep ignoring them.
3/ (er, 1 & 2 not numbered)
"Aerosol science is beyond the purview of the infectious disease community."
3/“I write to you, GOARN experts & key tech'l experts team for epidemic response, to appeal for getting consensus & taking action to combat & contain COVID-19 right away, b/c there will be no more time for further arguing & discussion on how we should deal with this global threat