Fragments of the COVID-19 were detected in samples collected from the Byron Bay sewage treatment plant on Thursday and the Northern NSW Local Health District is urging people in the Byron region who have even the mildest of symptoms to get tested.
The detection reported today was from a sewage treatment plant, which serves about 9,000 people.
Northern NSW Local Health District Acting Chief Executive, Lynne Weir, said today that there are no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in residents of Northern NSW Local Health District. ‘However, we treat positive wastewater detections seriously as they could indicate there are positive cases in the community who have not been tested.
‘Detections can also be due to shedding of the virus by someone who may have previously had the illness and may no longer be infectious, or from someone who has since left the area.’
Ms Weir said the discovery of virus fragments in wastewater is a reminder that we should not be complacent and to get tested if you have any symptoms, no matter how mild.
To find your nearest testing clinic, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics or contact your GP.
In Northern NSW, there are 22 sites currently being tested between Grafton and Tweed Heads, as part of the state-wide COVID-19 sewage surveillance program.
Samples are usually collected weekly and more frequently if there is a positive detection.
If fragments are detected in a catchment area, the community is advised immediately. Comprehensive information on sewage testing can be found on the NSW Health website at: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/sewage-surveillance.aspx.
Sewage testing results are updated daily at: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/stats-nsw.aspx#map and also reported in the NSW Health weekly epidemiology report: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/weekly-reports.aspx.
Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19
New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Life shows life expectancy in Australia has decreased slightly for the second year in a row. An international team of researchers has found more evidence that COVID-19 came from animals in a Wuhan food market. The lab-leak theory that Covid-19 came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology – instead of a nearby wet market – was thrashed about in public recently, with the US Senate Homeland Security Committee holding a hearing into Covid-19. Eighteen schools in the Northern Rivers division of Richmond have received $25,000 each as part of the federal government’s School Upgrade Fund, Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said last week. COVID-19 reversed earlier trends toward longer life expectancies. During the pandemic, life expectancies globally dropped by 1.6 years according to a new study published in the Lancet medical journal. Let’s not forget that Covid-19 is still a big issue in our community with 31,935 cases reported across Australia in the last week – an average of 4,562 cases per day. The Global Carbon Budget is about to be refreshed, giving the world a critical insight into how efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are (or are not) progressing. Masks will no longer be mandatory on public transport from tomorrow, Wednesday 21 September. SW Police are urging festival-goers at this weekend’s music festival to celebrate in a safe and responsible manner, whilst also being aware of COVID-Safety measures. The Northern NSW Local Health District reports that to 4pm yesterday, Sunday May 22, there were 40 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU.
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