Fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been detected in a sewage treatment plant at Ulladulla on the NSW south coast for the first time, sparking a call for testing in the coastal location that is currently overflowing with holidaymakers.
“This catchment serves a population 32,000 people and takes sewage from Narrawallee, Milton, Mollymook Beach, Ulladulla, Kings Point, Burrill Lake, Dolphin Point, Lake Tabourie,” NSW Health said in a statement.
It said there had been no recent locally-transmitted cases or returned travellers who had tested positive from the south coast area.
“This could mean there are undetected cases of COVID in the community or someone with the virus visited the area, so we are asking everyone in that area to be especially vigilant in monitoring for symptoms, and if they appear get tested and isolate immediately,” NSW Health said.
The health authority last night announced new venues of concern in Avalon and Wentworthville that have been visited by confirmed cases of COVID-19.
“Anyone who attended the Avalon Woolworths, Avalon Chemist Warehouse and Wentworthville ChemSave Day and Night Chemist on the dates and times listed on the NSW Government website must be tested for COVID-19 and self-isolate until they receive a negative result. They should continue to monitor for symptoms and if any occur, get tested again.”
Meanwhile, NSW recorded four new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
One of these cases, from the Northern Beaches, was first reported yesterday morning but is included in today’s numbers.
Seven cases were also recorded in returned travellers, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 4,806.
There were 26,112 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 27,879.
“NSW Health continues to urge everyone throughout the state to continue to come forward with even the mildest of symptoms. High testing numbers are vital to finding undetected cases and helping to contain the spread of COVID-19,” NSW Health said in a statement today.
Of the four locally acquired cases to 8pm last night:
- One remains under investigation. This is the man from the northern zone of the Northern Beaches first reported yesterday morning.
- One is linked to the Croydon cluster, and is a close contact of a previously reported case. There are now 11 cases in this cluster.
- Two are linked to the Berala cluster, and are close contacts of previously reported cases. There are now 20 cases in the Berala cluster, following the addition of today’s two cases and two previously reported cases which have now been linked to the cluster.
