The State’s COVID-19 wastewater surveillance program has been taking additional samples from locations in metropolitan Perth after recently reported community cases.
The Department of Health said the extra sites were being under surveillance for a two-week period.
“Targeted surveillance locations have been identified based on the movements of the cases during their infectious periods,” the Department said in a statement.
“Initial results from seven wastewater sub-catchment area sites have come back negative.”
The Department said wastewater testing could provide an early warning of undiagnosed COVID-19 in the community.
“Specifically, samples may detect COVID-19 in the community from people that have not yet been tested or from people who are asymptomatic,” it said.
It said the testing program was a collaboration between the Department of Health, PathWest, the Water Corporation and WA Country Health Service.
Minister for Health, Roger Cook said targeted wastewater surveillance in high-risk areas could provide additional information about COVID-19 in these locations and formed an important part of the Government’s pandemic response.
“The addition of these locations visited by known confirmed cases means we are taking yet another step to stay ahead of the virus and it will give further insight into whether COVID-19 is present in the community,” Mr Cook said.
“The early results from the new locations are encouraging, but wastewater testing is not a substitute for COVID-19 testing or for getting vaccinated when you are eligible.”
The Department of Health has developed an online dashboard which shows the most recent wastewater testing results for the metropolitan and regional areas.
The dashboard can be accessed at this PS News link.
