Positive wastewater detection in Yeppoon

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4 February 2021

Fragments of SARS-CoV-2 have been detected in the Yeppoon sewage catchment.

Yeppoon sewer catchment receives sewage from the suburbs of Taroomball, Inverness, Hidden Valley, Rosslyn, Mulambin, Cooee Bay, Barlows Hill, Lammermoor, Meikleville Hill, Pacific Heights, Taranganba and Yeppoon.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said continued detections across the state is becoming more concerning.

“We continue to urge anyone with any symptoms, no matter how mild to come forward and get tested,” Dr Young said.

“Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting, and loss of taste or smell.

“This is especially important now more than ever, as we know the new variants emerging overseas are more contagious than previous variants we have seen in Queensland.

“If there is a case we are not yet aware of, it is critical we detect it through our testing mechanisms as quickly as possible to contain any potential spread.

“It is, of course, also possible that this detection relates to previous COVID-19 cases who can shed viral fragments for a couple of months after they are no longer infectious.”

Further to this morning’s announcement that a potential case in north Brisbane was being investigated with additional testing, preliminary results have returned negative, with more test results still to come.

Another potential case in Townsville which was also discussed this morning has since been confirmed as an historical case.

For more information about Queensland’s wastewater surveillance program, visit https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/wastewater.

To access a full list of COVID-19 testing locations, with interactive map and post code search, visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-informed/testing-and-fever-clinics.

If your local testing clinic is crowded, consider attending another one.