Wastewater warning

a It is definitely it’s concern, although hard to say if it actually represents an infectious person or in the community, somebody who’s is still recovered and just shedding those viral fragments. Preston-Thomas

A CAIRNS public health unit doctor has expressed concern that the latest viral fragment detection discovered in the city’s wastewater could be an early warning sign of new Covid-19 community transmission.

Annie Preston-Thomas, of the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service’s public health unit, said the previous instance of viral fragment detection came days ahead of the snap three-day lockdown in August, when a

Covid-positive taxi driver was infectious in the community for 10 days.

“(It) heralded the last two cases of community-acquired Covid-19 that we had in the community and it led to a three-day lockdown in Cairns and Yarrabah local government areas,” Dr PrestonThomas said.

“So, this is a reminder – this could be our early warning this time around.

“It is definitely a concern, although it’s hard to say if it actually represents an infectious person in the community, or somebody who’s recovered and is still just shedding those viral fragments.”

Anyone in the following suburbs, which are wholly or partially serviced by the Cairns North plant, are encouraged to get tested if they have any symptoms: Brinsmead, Edge Hill, Cairns North, Parramatta Park, Cairns City, Portsmith, Holloways, Machans Beach, and suburbs in between including Redlynch and Kamerunga.

Following the sewage detection on October 12, Dr Preston-Thomas said it was important the community kept practising social distancing and good hand hygiene.

“And I think the important thing is that vaccination is going to be one of the critical things that protects our community,” she said.

Dr Preston-Thomas said it was possible the source of the detection was the Pacific Hotel, which has been used as a quarantine hotel.

And she said there were no virus fragments contained in Covid-19 vaccines.

“The vaccines help your body to develop an immune response to the virus; the vaccines don’t contain the virus itself,” she said.

Meanwhile, Far Northerners will have a chance to receive the Covid vaccine at Smithfield and Atherton Bunnings pop-up clinics on Saturday from 8am-noon.

A pop-up clinic will also be set up at the Cairns Pride Festival Fair Day on Sunday at Tanks Arts Centre.

CHHHS Covid-19 program director Kelly Pollock said the service wanted to target people where they lived, worked and played.