The Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS) has revealed the presence of COVID-19 where there were no known cases as part of its sewage surveillance program.
Welcoming the Department’s finding, Premier Daniel Andrews said the testing of sewage samples collected in Apollo Bay over recent days had shown viral fragments of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
“The virus was detected in wastewater on Friday 4 September from a sample collected from the influent (entry pipe) to the sewage treatment plant on Tuesday 1 September,” Mr Andrews said.
“The positive result was also confirmed with an independent test of the same sample collected on 1 September,” he said.
“A further wastewater sample taken on Saturday 5 September was also positive for viral fragments.”
Mr Andrews said DHHS had stepped up testing in the area with the help of local health services.
“People from Apollo Bay and nearby communities with even mild symptoms are urged to get tested, with more than 60 local people already answering the call to be tested since the weekend, with no positive results at present,” he said.
“While viral fragments may indicate that people within a community have or have recently had coronavirus, it can take several weeks for people to shed the virus which is well beyond their infectious period.”
He said that as the virus broke down and viral fragments entered wastewater through bowls, sinks and drains it would travels through the sewerage network.
“Up to 300 samples a week can be taken and tested from across 25 sites across Victoria’s metropolitan and regional sewerage network,” the Premier said.
Mr Andrews said sewerage monitoring may become a more valuable early detection tool as the number of new infections detected through routine testing reduced.
