NSW Health’s sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the COVID-19 virus at sewage systems at Toukley, Lane Cove West, South Windsor and Castle Hill.
NSW Health said it was particularly concerned by these detections, as there are no known cases in these areas.
Toukley sewage treatment plant serves about 29,000 people in suburbs including Budgewoi, Buff Point, Canton Beach, Halekulani, Magenta, Norah Head, Noraville, Toukley, Tuggerawong, Wyongah, Kanwal, Gorokan and Lake Haven.
Lane Cove West sewage network serves about 26,000 people in suburbs including Lane Cove, Artarmon, Lane Cove West, Chatswood West, Chatswood West, Roseville, Lindfield, Chatswood, North Ryde and Lane Cove North.
South Windsor sewage treatment plant serves about 19,000 people in suburbs including Windsor Downs, Bligh Park, Clarendon and South Windsor.
Castle Hill sewage treatment plant serves about 8,400 people in suburbs including Glenhaven, Dural, Kenthurst, Kellyville and Castle Hill.
“There has also been a detection in Rozelle sewage network, where there have been no recent cases. Rozelle sewage network serves about 32,800 people in suburbs including Balmain East, Lilyfield, Rozelle, Annandale, Balmain, Birchgrove and Leichhardt,” NSW Health said in a statement.
“Everyone in these areas is asked to be particularly vigilant for the onset of symptoms that could signal COVID-19, and if they appear, to immediately be tested and isolate until a negative result is received.
“NSW Health continues to urge everyone throughout NSW, to get tested immediately if they have even the mildest of symptoms. High rates of testing are critical to detecting transmission and prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the community.”
The state recorded 170 new locally-acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Of these new local cases, 77 are linked to a known case or cluster – 61 are household contacts and 16 are close contacts – and the source of infection for 93 cases is under investigation.
“Sixty-five cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and ten cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period,” NSW Health said.
“Forty-two cases were infectious in the community, and the isolation status of 53 cases remains under investigation.”
