Alert for millions of Australians as coronavirus fragments are found lurking in sewage from 39 suburbs
Millions of Australians are being urged to be on alert for coronavirus symptoms after fragments of the virus were found in sewage from 39 Sydney suburbs.
Fragments of the virus were detected at the Liverpool sewage treatment plant prompting NSW Health to push residents of southwestern Sydney to get tested.
'The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage may reflect the presence of known cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in recent weeks in the area served by this sewage treatment plant,' a spokesperson said.
Fragments of the virus were detected at the Liverpool sewage treatment plant prompting NSW Health to push residents of southwestern Sydney to get tested on Wednesday
Nurses prepare to conduct COVID-19 tests at the Bondi Beach testing clinic in November
'However, NSW Health is concerned there could be other active cases in the local community in people who have not been tested and who might incorrectly assume their symptoms are just a cold.'
Authorities are continuously issuing warnings for people to get tested despite NSW having no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19.
It is feared the virus could be passing through people undetected.
NSW Health said 13,970 people were tested for COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, compared with just 6,040 in the previous 24 hours.
'While numbers have increased since yesterday, there are still too few people being tested,' it said in a statement on Wednesday.
SUBURBS BEING TOLD TO GET TESTED IMMEDIATELY
'We are likely to miss cases if there is a delay in being tested. Please come forward for testing immediately with even the mildest of symptoms.
'Don't wait to see if your runny nose or sore throat goes away.'
Wednesday was the fifth consecutive day with no local COVID-19 transmission in NSW, while two cases were reported in returned overseas travellers.
On Tuesday, NSW Health said there weren't enough people getting tested, and warned that with restrictions being eased and borders reopening, it was not the time to be complacent.
Millions of Australians are being urged to get tested immediately for coronavirus after fragments of it were found in sewage from 39 Sydney suburbs. Pictured: Liverpool sewage treatment plant
NSW Health said 13,970 people were tested for COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, compared with just 6,040 in the previous 24 hours
'Experience has shown us how easily the virus can spread through the community if we let down our guard,' it said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Premier Gladys Berejiklian brushed off concerns about the revelation there was another breach of quarantine in July when a man arriving from the US avoided hotel quarantine in Sydney before flying to Melbourne.
Ms Berejiklian said the workers processing returning travellers did an outstanding job but there was 'no doubt human error can play a part, it's not a foolproof system'.
It's the fifth consecutive day with no local COVID-19 transmission in NSW, while two cases were reported in returned overseas travellers
'Even when people are really good at what they do ...mistakes can still happen,' she told Sky News.
'I think we've managed it extremely well. We've welcomed back at least 100,000 Australians through the quarantine system ... NSW is doing the heavy lifting for the nation,' she said.
'I can't even promise you there won't be more mistakes in the future. It's a risk.'
Investigations continue into the source of the recent COVID-19 case of a woman who works as a cleaner at a Sydney quarantine hotel.
Testing of her close contacts was continuing, and no further positive results had been identified.