Sydney sewage tests raise concerns of virus spread
NSW cases falling as outbreak jumps state to Victoria
Australian health authorities have called on residents of Sydney’s upper north shore to come forward for testing, after a sewage test found traces of the virus in the area.
New South Wales’ sewage surveillance programme detected traces of Covid-19 at a treatment plant in Hornsby Heights, sparking concerns the virus may have spread further than detected.
“NSW Health is aware of two recent Covid-19 positive cases in the area which are linked to the Avalon cluster, but as a precaution we continue to ask the community to be alert and present for testing,” NSW Health said.
Nswrecorded another decrease in cases yesterday after just eight locally acquired infections were confirmed to 8pm on Monday night.
Seven of those cases have been linked to the Avalon cluster, which is now at 90 cases, and one case still under investigation.
Health authorities are working to determine whether this infection could be linked to an overseas case.
“The case that is under investigation is a healthcare worker from western Sydney who was involved in the transfer of patients from the international airport,” chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant.
“This case has transported several patients but we have identified that they also have transferred positive Covid cases. We are obviously doing urgent genome sequencing to confirm that that is the source of their infection and those results will be available later today (Tuesday).”
Dr Chant said a close contact of the worker has also tested positive to Covid-19 and will be included in today’s daily figures.
More than 44,400 tests were conducted in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday, and Premier Gladys Berejiklian praised residents for turning out in such high numbers to get tested.
It comes as NSW recorded 15 new Covid-19 infections on Monday after more than 38,000 tests were conducted the day before.
The northern beaches have been placed on lockdown, with residents allowed to leave their homes for only four essential reasons.
Restrictions around and venue limits have gatherings also been
reintroduced across Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains and Wollongong.
Yesterday, Berejiklian praised NSW residents for the drop in cases but warned it didn’t mean there would be no restrictions in place for Christmas.
She said key decisions around gathering rules would be announced this morning after authorities reviewed all aspects of the outbreak.
“Look, unfortunately, one day’s results doesn’t tell us it’s a trend,” Berejiklian said. “Obviously, we have halved the number of cases overnight, but, in a pandemic, there is a level of volatility, so we’ll closely monitor what happens obviously to 8pm tonight (Tuesday) and we’ll be making a final call on Wednesday morning.
“I appreciate how frustrating it is, and I would love to be able to tell everybody today what Christmas might look like in New South Wales or the Northern Beaches. But we’re not in a position to do that yet.”
It comes as Victoria confirmed that Sydney’s cluster had crossed the border.
Yesterday, Victorian health authorities confirmed the interstate infection vector was a 15-year-old girl from Moonee Valley who had visited several of the high-risk exposure sites in Sydney.
“The young person travelled home from Sydney with their parent,” Health Minister Martin Foley said.
“They have isolated when they returned to Victoria and, as a result of the awareness of the situation in Sydney, the young person has sought testing.” — news.com.au