Motorsport enthusiasts and event staff who attended the weekend’s Bathurst 1000 race are being urged to get tested for COVID-19 after remnants of the virus were detected in local raw sewage.
“The sample comprises wastewater from over the past weekend, and could indicate current or a previous infection in someone who attended or worked at the Bathurst 1000 motor race, a visitor to Bathurst, or even a local resident,” NSW Health said in a statement released last night.
“Visitors to and residents of Bathurst must be aware of any symptoms of illness, and immediately isolate and get tested should even the mildest of symptoms appear that you think might just be a cold. Symptoms like a runny nose or scratchy throat, cough, tiredness, fever or other symptoms could be COVID-19.”
“After testing, you must remain in isolation until a negative result is received.”
NSW Health said it was “urgently undertaking investigations” in regard to the possible Bathurst infection, which included reviewing lists of all those known to have had the virus who attended or worked at the race.
It said that sewage testing for molecular markers of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, started in July, adding another tool in the fight against the global pandemic.
“There is no evidence COVID-19 is transmitted via wastewater systems,” the department said.
While around 40,000 campers normally descend on the town of Bathurst for the annual race, due to pandemic restrictions just 4,000 racegoers were permitted to attend this year’s race.
