NSW Health's ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 at the Wauchope and Port Macquarie treatment plants from samples taken on 13 September.
Fragments detected in sewage, monitor for symptoms
Sep 15, 2021View the latest updates.
NSW Health’s ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 at the Wauchope and Port Macquarie treatment plants from samples taken on 13 September.
There are no new confirmed COVID-19 cases anywhere in the Mid North Coast Local Health District.
The Wauchope sewage treatment plant serves around 8,000 residents of Wauchope, Crosslands, Beechwood and Timbertown.
Testing sewage can help provide early warning of undetected infections in an area. This is of particular concern in Wauchope where there are no known cases of COVID-19.
The Port Macquarie sewage treatment plant serves around 54,000 residents of Port Macquarie, Sovereign Hills, Thrumster, Sancrox, North Shore and Settlement Point.
Detection of virus fragments in sewage can also be due to shedding of the virus by someone who may have previously had the illness and may no longer be infectious.
It can also be the result of a person with COVID-19 who may have visited the community and has since left the area.
Residents of Wauchope and Port Macquarie are urged to monitor for the onset of symptoms, and if they appear, to immediately be tested and isolate until a negative result is received.
Anyone directed to get tested for COVID 19 or self-isolate at any time, must follow the rules whether or not the venue or exposure setting is listed on the NSW Health website.
A drive-through testing clinic is in operation at Port Macquarie Regional Stadium (Boundary Street) and a pop-up drive-through testing clinic will open at Wauchope Showground at 10am tomorrow (16 September).
A full list of COVID-19 testing clinic locations and opening hours are listed on the NSW Government website.