Health authorities have issued a warning for over 40,000 Sydney residents, after fragments of COVID-19 were found in a sewerage network.
Residents of Homebush West, Strathfield, Concord West, Sydney Olympic Park, Wentworth Point, Newington, Lidcombe, Homebush, Silverwater, Petersham, Liberty Grove, Rhodes, North Strathfield and Concord are being urged to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms.
This catchment area includes about 40,500 people and takes sewage from the suburbs of Homebush West, Strathfield, Concord West, Sydney Olympic Park, Wentworth Point, Newington, Lidcombe, Homebush, Silverwater, Petersham, Liberty Grove, Rhodes, North Strathfield and Concord.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) May 28, 2021
“People who have recently recovered from COVID-19 can continue to shed virus fragments into the sewerage system for several weeks even after they are no longer infectious,” a NSW Health spokesperson said.
“Nonetheless, NSW Health is asking everyone in the area to be vigilant in monitoring for symptoms, and if they appear get tested and isolate immediately until they receive a negative result.
“NSW Health urges everyone to continue to take practical measures to stay COVID-safe, including practising good hand hygiene, and always using QR codes to check in to and out of venues.”
In the past 24 hours, three new cases were detected in NSW hotel quarantine, with 17,593 tests carried out.