NSW Health has expressed concerns after Covid fragments were detected in Byron Bay sewerage

NSW Health has said the detection is “of great concern” as there have been no local cases diagnosed.

Update, 3pm:

Northern Rivers health authorities have urged anyone in the Byron Bay area with symptoms of Covid-19 to get tested.

NSW Health announced overnight fragments of the virus which causes Covid-19 were detected in sewerage monitoring of the Byron Bay Sewerage Treatment Plant.

North Coast Public Health Unit director Paul Corben said while there have been no positive cases in the local community, it was still important for people to come forward for testing.

“Northern NSW Local Health District is urging Byron Bay residents and visitors to get tested for COVID-19 at the first sign of symptoms, following the detection of fragments of the virus in sewage samples taken from the Byron Bay sewage treatment plant on July 20,” Mr Corben said.

“The Byron Bay sewage treatment plant serves approximately 19,000 people in the Broken Head, Suffolk Park, Byron Bay, Wategos, and Sunrise areas.”

He said there were no confirmed cases of Covid-19 anywhere in the Northern NSW Local Health District and there had been no sewerage detections from the other 12 collection sites across the district.

“The last positive sewage detection in the area was in Lennox Head in April 2021,” he said.

“Testing sewage can help provide early warning of undetected infections in an area.

“In this instance, where there are no known cases of Covid-19, this is of particular concern.”

He said the detection could also be result of “shedding of the virus by someone who may have previously had the illness and may no longer be infectious”.

“It can also be the result of a person with COVID-19 who may have visited the community and has since left the area,” he said.

“As well as being present in stools, viral fragments can enter the sewer when washed off hands and bodies through sinks and showers.

“Usual sewage treatment processes inactivate, or kill, the Covid-19 virus.”

Virus testing capacities have meanwhile increased in the area, with a drive-through testing clinic now open at the Cavanbah Centre car park on Ewingsdale Road in Byron Bay.

A motorist is tested at the drive-through Covid testing centre at the Cavanbah Centre on Ewingsdale Road in Byron Bay on Friday, July 23, 2021. Picture: Liana Boss.

“Additional resources have been allocated to testing clinics in the area, to increase capacity in response to the sewage detection,” Mr Corben said.

“We strongly encourage residents and visitors in the area to remain vigilant and get tested at the first sign of illness.

“Symptoms of COVID-19 can include a runny nose, scratchy or sore throat, cough, fever, shortness of breath, headache, tiredness, loss of taste or smell, nausea, diarrhoea or muscle aches.”

There are more than 25 testing clinics across Northern NSW, including:

• Byron Bay QML Pathology Drive-Through, Cavanbah Sports Ground, 249

Ewingsdale Rd, Byron Bay. Open until 4pm today. Open from 8am Saturday

and Sunday.

• Byron Bay Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, 1 Byron Street, Byron Bay.

• Byron Central Hospital, 54 Ewingsdale Road, Ewingsdale

• Ocean Shores Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, 84 Rajah Rd, Ocean Shores

• Mullumbimby Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, 125 Daley Street, Mullumbimby

• Lennox Head Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, Shop 4, 62 Ballina Street,

Lennox Head.

Original report: 6.35am

NSW Health has issued a public health alert after Covid-19 fragments were detected in Byron Bay sewerage.

“NSW Health’s ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 at the sewage treatment plant at Byron Bay,” NSW Health said in a statement.

“The sewage treatment plant serves about 19,000 people in Byron Bay, Wategos, Suffolk Park, Sunrise, and Broken Head.

“There are no known cases in this area, which is of great concern.”

The health department said residents should be extra cautious at this time.

“Everyone in the area is asked to be especially vigilant for symptoms, and if they appear, to immediately come forward for testing and isolate until a negative result is received.

“If symptoms appear again, please be tested and isolate again.”

NSW Health has also issued public health alerts for other parts of the state, details here.