Covid found in city sewage

FRAGMENTS of Covid-19 have been detected in wastewater at Hobart’s Macquarie Point sewage treatment plant.

But authorities say the result is believed to be linked to the positive case at Hobart’s Fountainside Hotel, which is serviced by the treatment plant.

The teenager that was diagnosed with Covid-19 last weekend in Launceston is being managed at the hotel, which has been set aside by the state government to accommodate positive cases who do not require hospital treatment.

The wastewater sample was collected on Tuesday this week, before being tested by the Australian Water Quality Centre in South Australia.

“Positive wastewater results can also indicate a case in the community or someone who continues to shed the Covid-19 virus after they have recovered from the infection,’’ Public Health director Mark Veitch said.

“Although Public Health believes the result is related to the current case, it is important that the community continues to be vigilant and, if you have symptoms, isolate and get tested.”

Dr Veitch said the other 15 wastewater samples for which results have been received this week, including nine samples from the Launceston area, have been negative.

Tasmanians have so far avoided a Delta outbreak as testing related to the Launceston case continues to return negative results.

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson on Friday confirmed the government was “pleased” but “not complacent” that 51 contacts requiring testing remain negative for Covid-19.

Mr Ferguson reiterated the government’s call for people to get tested, particularly in the Launceston area, if they have any symptoms develop.

“Don’t ignore them, please have a test. It’s the wise and sensible thing to do as we all work together to keep Covid out of Tasmania,” he said.

While pop-up testing clinics roll out this weekend in regional areas such as Kentish, Central Highlands and the West Coast, Mr Ferguson encouraged lower vaccinated areas to “see it as an important decision to make in their own life and for their family”.

The RFDS and state government is also rolling out a mobile clinic with its schedule to be announced in coming days.

Tasmania is still a while off hitting the elusive 90 per cent vaccination rate, currently at 63.4 per cent fully vaccinated.

“We are in fact on track to meet that target and that’s a demonstration I think that Tasmanians have heeded the call,” Mr Ferguson said. He encouraged people to make getting vaccinated a priority.