Authorities have detected coronavirus fragments in a Corio sewerage treatment plant prompting calls for visitors to northern Geelong and Lara to get tested.
“Coronavirus fragments have been detected in a wastewater sample collected from the Oyster Cove wastewater treatment plant in Corio,” a Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) spokesperson said yesterday.
“Residents and visitors to Geelong’s northern suburbs and Lara from November 21 to 23 are urged to get tested if they have any symptoms, no matter how mild.”
The sewerage discovery comes as Victoria officially recorded its 28th consecutive day with no new coronavirus cases yesterday.
The DHHS spokesperson described the discovery as unexpected given that no residents in the area been diagnosed with COVID-19 for more than a month.
Acting Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng said the viral fragments may be because of residents or people visiting these areas shedding the virus.
People who have had COVID-19 may shed the virus or virus fragments for several weeks in their stool, well beyond their infectious period, Professor Cheng explained.
“We have had a few of these positive wastewater results recently,” he said.
“While we haven’t discovered any undiagnosed case of coronavirus, it is possible that there may be an infectious person in this catchment.
“We encourage people in this area who are symptomatic to be tested and will update the community once more testing results become available.”
“It is also a timely reminder for local businesses to re-check their COVID-Safe plans to keep themselves, their colleagues and customers safe.”
Authorities conduct regular analysis of samples of untreated wastewater for fragments of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, at more than 50 locations across Victoria.
Last week they detected coronavirus fragment in wastewater in Altona, Benalla and Portland despite no known recent COVID-19 infections.
Increased testing of residents and visitors in these locations has not revealed anyone with the COVID-19.
For a full list of testing locations, visit www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/where-get-tested-covid-19.
