Urgent alert for tens of thousands of people living across 30 Sydney suburbs to get tested for coronavirus even if they have ‘the mildest symptoms’ after sewage discovery
Hundreds of thousands of Sydneysiders have been urged to get tested after coronavirus was found in sewage.
NSW Health has issued an alert for 30 suburbs in Sydney's south-west and north-west as the state recorded an eighth consecutive day of zero locally-acquired cases.
Traces of the virus were detected in samples collected from a catchment that takes sewage of 180,000 Sydneysiders in the city's south-west on Thursday.
Affected suburbs include Leppington, Catherine Field, Gledswood Hills, Varroville, Denham Court, West Hoxton, Hoxton Park, Middleton Grange, Horningsea Park, Carnes Hill, Edmondson Park, Prestons and Miller.
Sydneysiders who display even the mildest of symptoms are urged to get tested. Pictured is a healthcare worker preparing to test a motorist in Bondi
Alert for residents in these suburbs
Sydney's south-west: Leppington, Catherine Field, Gledswood Hills, Varroville, Denham Court, West Hoxton, Hoxton Park, Middleton Grange, Horningsea Park, Carnes Hill, Edmondson Park, Prestons and Miller
Sydney's north-west: Quakers Hill, Castle Hill, Annangrove, Kellyville, Box Hill, Kenthurst, Glenhaven, The Ponds, Rouse Hill, North Kellyville, Kellyville Ridge, Beaumont Hills, Stanhope Gardens, Baulkham Hills, Glenwood, Bella Vista, Parklea, Acacia Gardens and Norwest
It comes a day after more fragments were also detected in a second sewerage system on Wednesday, which affects 120,000 residents in Sydney's north-west.
Suburbs include Quakers Hill, Castle Hill, Annangrove, Kellyville, Box Hill, Kenthurst, Glenhaven, The Ponds, Rouse Hill, North Kellyville, Kellyville Ridge, Beaumont Hills, Stanhope Gardens, Baulkham Hills, Glenwood, Bella Vista, Parklea, Acacia Gardens and Norwest.
'While detection of the virus in sewage samples could reflect the presence of older cases of COVID 19 diagnosed in these areas, 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 simply a cold,' NSW Health said.
Residents in these areas who display the mildest of symptoms are urged to get tested.
They include a runny nose or scratchy throat, cough, tiredness, fever or other symptoms could be COVID-19.
Once you are tested, you must remain in self-isolation until you receive a negative result.
NSW recorded nine new cases on Sunday, who are all returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
Traces of coronavirus were detected in sewage samples taken from Sydney's south-west and north-west this week (stock image)
NSW health has urged Sydneysiders to get tested after traces of coronavirus were found in two major sewage systems. Pictured are healthcare workers at a drive-through clinic in Bondi
NSW Health has reiterated its plea for everyone to continue the COVID-safe behaviours as social gatherings increase in lead up to summer.
'Though there have been no locally acquired cases in NSW in recent days, now is not the time to drop our guard,' the department said.
'Everyone needs to continue to be alert to the ongoing risk of transmission of COVID-19, to keep practising physical distancing and good hand hygiene, and most importantly to get tested and isolate if they feel unwell.'
The state's death toll remains at 55.
Pictured are Argentinians cheering their side on in the Tri Nations rugby union test match against the New Zealand All Blacks in western Sydney on Saturday