The Department of Health has detected fragments of COVID-19 in sewage at seven more sites across South-East Queensland.
Chief Health Officer, Dr Jeannette Young said viral fragments of SARS-CoV-2 had been detected in wastewater treatment plants at Gibson Island (South Brisbane), Luggage Point (North Brisbane), Pimpama, Coombabah, Capalaba, Loganholme and Wynnum.
“This does not mean we have new cases of COVID-19 in these communities, but we are treating these detections with absolute caution, especially considering the Hotel Grand Chancellor cluster,” Dr Young said.
“A positive sewage result means that someone who has been infected was shedding the virus. Infected people can shed viral fragments and that shedding can happen for several weeks after the person is no longer infectious.”
She said the samples were collected from the wastewater treatment plants in recent days.
“I continue to urge anyone who feels unwell in these communities to get tested and isolate,” Dr Young said.
“Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting, and loss of taste or smell.”
She said if there was a case the Department was not yet aware of, it was critical it was detected by testing mechanisms as quickly as possible to contain any potential spread.
The full list of COVID-19 testing locations can be accessed at this PS News link.
