Covid found in sewage in Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie region

Authorities are urging people with even the mildest of symptoms to get tested after fragments of the virus were found in sewage samples in the Coffs and Port Macquarie areas.

Water quality analyst Seak Lin Ly from Sydney Water test wastewater samples for signs of Covid-19 at Sydney waters Lab in West Ryde. Picture: Damian Shaw

Fragments of Covid-19 have been found in sewage in the Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie region.

The Mid North Coast Local Health District is urging people with even the mildest of symptoms to get tested after the detection of fragments of the virus in sewage samples taken from the Port Macquarie, Wauchope, Dunbogan and Woolgoolga sewage treatment plants.

Health boss Stewart Dowrick said the sewage detection at Woolgoolga on October 13 was of particular concern as there were no known cases in the area.

The Woolgoolga sewage treatment plant serves residents of Corindi Beach, Corindi, Arrawarra, Arrawarra Headland, Mullaway, Woolgoolga, Safety Beach and Sandy Beach.

While there were no new Covid-19 cases in the Mid North Coast Local Health District on Friday, there were active cases in the region.

People are being urged to get tested. Picture: David Crosling

Detection of virus fragments in sewage can help provide early warning of undetected infections in an area but can also be due to 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.

There are Covid-19 testing clinics located across the Mid North Coast, including at Woolgoolga CWA rooms in Beach Street and a drive-through testing clinic at Coffs Harbour International Stadium.

A full list of clinic locations and opening hours can be found here.

The local health district is also encouraging people to get vaccinated as soon as they are able to.

Find available clinics and make a booking here or call Health Direct on 1800 571 155.

To the north in Grafton, residents were met with a long line at a new drive-through testing clinic as the town grapples with its worst outbreak of the pandemic.