Local health authorities on the Northern Rivers say they didn’t record any new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the reporting period ending 8pm 25 September.
But to the south of the region, the Northern NSW Local Health District says fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 were detected in samples taken from the North and South Grafton sewage treatment plants on 24 September.
The sites served a combined total of approximately 18,500 people, authorities said.
North Coast Public Health Unit Director Dr Paul Douglas said it was the second detection in four days at the Grafton treatment plants.
‘We are particularly concerned about the Grafton detections given there are no known cases in the area,’ Mr Douglas said.
‘We strongly encourage anyone in the Grafton area to be vigilant for COVID-19 symptoms and to get tested and isolate as soon as symptoms develop.’
Possible unconfirmed COVID 19 cases in Ballina Shire
In the Ballina Shire, sewage surveillance detected fragments of the virus in samples taken from the Wardell sewage treatment plant on 24 September.
It was the fourth detection in that area in ten days.
Mr Douglas said while health authorities knew about a confirmed case who had been in the Ballina, Wardell and Cabbage Tree Island areas during 14 – 16 September, ongoing detections could indicate other unconfirmed cases in the local communities.
Testing clinics open in the Grafton and Ballina areas included:
Ballina 4Cyte Drive Through clinic, 39 River Street, Ballina. Open 7am –
2pm daily, appointments not required.
Ballina Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, 90 Tamar Street, Shop 4, Ballina.
Open 7am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday, appointments not required.
Ballina Respiratory Clinic, 92 Tamar Street, Shop 12, Tamar Shopping
Village, Ballina. Open Monday- Friday 8.30am – 4pm, appointments required.
Grafton Base Hospital, 184 Arthur Street, Grafton. Open 9am- 5pm seven
days, appointments not required.
Grafton South Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, 94 Bent Street, Shop 9 Coles
Complex, South Grafton. Open 7am – 2pm Monday to Friday, appointments
not required.
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