Remnants of the COVID-19 virus were detected in raw sewage in the Bathurst area today.
NOTE: Batemans Bay sewage treatment plant is one of 52 plants across NSW providing samples to NSW Health
NSW Health is tonight calling on anyone who attended the Bathurst 1000 motor race on the weekend as well as residents of Bathurst with any symptoms that could signal COVID-19 to get tested as soon as possible after remnants of the COVID-19 virus were detected in raw sewage in the area today.
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.
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 is urgently undertaking investigations, which include reviewing lists of all those known to have had the virus who attended or worked at the race.
The only way to find new cases and prevent further transmission is to increase testing.
There are more than 300 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. To find your nearest clinic visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/.../how-to-protect.../clinics or contact your GP.
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.
