Covid trace found in Cairns

TRACES of COVID-19 have been detected in wastewater in two different locations in the Cairns area.

While the city’s sewage has tested positive several times previously, the virus has been detected for the first time in sewage in the Marlin Coast wastewater treatment plant in samples taken on January 19, the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service has confirmed.

The wastewater plant services Cairns’ northern beaches, including Yorkeys Knob, Kewarra Beach, Palm Cove, Trinity Beach, Clifton Beach, as well as suburbs in between, including Caravonica.

“This indicates that there could be a case in the catchment area at present or when the sample was taken,” the CHHHS has advised. “The result could also be due to a previously recovered COVID-19 case who visited or lives in the area, and continues to shed the virus.”

There have also been traces of COVID-19 detected in sewage at southern Cairns wastewater treatment plant in samples taken on January 20.

The wastewater plant services parts of Mt Sheridan, parts of White Rock, Westcourt, Bungalow, Portsmith to Fearnley St, Manunda, Manoora and suburbs in between.

The CHHHS said it was possible this detection could be due to ship wastewater being discharged at a local facility.

According to the official Queensland Health tally, the Far North has no active cases of COVID-19, with 49 cases listed as “recovered”.

Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young said the detections were being treated seriously, although it did not mean there were new cases of the virus in those communities.

“A positive sewage result means someone who was infected was shedding the virus. Infected people can shed viral fragments and that shedding can happen for several weeks after the person is no longer infectious,” Dr Young said.