Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young
December 31, 2020

Traces of the COVID-19 virus have been detected in the sewage at two more sites in south-east Queensland.

A Queensland Health spokesperson said routine testing had detected viral fragments in waste water at treatment plants in Bundamba and Merrimac.

The Bundamba samples were collected on December 28 and the Merrimac samples on December 24.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the positive sewage results were particularly concerning given the NSW cluster and new cases in Victoria.

“Both of these treatment plants collect waste from large urban populations,” she said.

“It is very important for anyone in the Bundamba and Merrimac catchments who has COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, to come forward for testing.”

The latest positive results follow detections last week at seven waste water sites – Victoria Point, Oxley Creek, Goodna, Fairfields, Cairns North, Redcliffe and Nambour.

“It’s not just residents we want to reach, but holidaymakers as well,” Dr Young said.

UPDATE: Dr Young confirmed on Friday that viral fragments had also been detected in waste water at treatment plants in Bundaberg and Elanora.


 

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