Covid fragments detected in Byron Bay sewage as QLD/ NSW border restrictions discussed

The method for booking Covid-19 appointments with NSW Health has changed as a fresh fragment detection at Byron Bay sparks pleas for people to get tested.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says representatives from QLD and NSW are meeting today to discuss the border bubble. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

The NSW Government is urging people in the Byron region with even the mildest of symptoms to get tested for Covid-19 after fragments of the virus were detected in samples collected from the Byron Bay sewage treatment plant.

The detection was made on August 26 in a system which serves about 9000 people.

There have been no other detections in samples taken at the other 22 treatment plants in Northern NSW.

The last positive sewage detection at the Byron Bay plant was on 17 August 2021.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said on Monday the detection was a worry.

“These sewage treatment plants do not have any confirmed cases,” she said.

“Again we are very concerned and urge people to come forward for testing.”

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said community vigilance was even more important due to regional NSW’s first Covid-19 related death in Dubbo.

“We’ve seen previously through that (sewage) surveillance we’ve been able to identity cases,” he said.

He said the NSW government had been working with Queensland over the weekend to rectify cross-border issues and would continue on Tuesday.

“It is concerning but over the weekend NSW officials alongside Queensland officials have been working on a series of new changes being considered by Queensland Health,” he said.

“We are working for an outcome to support the Tweed community.”

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was expecting October to be the worst month for hospitalisation as she urged residents to get vaccinated.

“The health system will be prepared but will it be stretched? Absolutely,” she said.

She also told those unvaccinated they will not be granted the freedoms vaccinated residents will be when the state reaches a 70 per cent vaccination rate.

A QML Pathology drive-through Covid-19 testing clinic in Byron Bay.

Meanwhile, the Northern NSW Local Health District will move to an online booking system for its three Covid-19 vaccination clinics from Monday, August 30.

Future bookings at NSW Health clinics in Tweed Heads, Lismore and Grafton will be made through the vaccine eligibility checker at health.gov.au rather than the previous phone booking system.

Northern NSW Local Health District Covid-19 Vaccination Program co-ordinator Matt Long said the change would make it easier and quicker for people to book appointments.

The Queensland State Disaster co-ordinator was set to meet with the New South Wales Cross Border Commissioner on Sunday to discuss border bubble proposals.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said at a press conference on Sunday she was “extending the olive branch” to the NSW government to establish a border bubble.

“It’s about making it easier for those communities to coexist,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

This comes after Queensland recorded one new case of Covid, linked to the Indooroopilly cluster, while NSW recorded 1218 cases and six deaths. 

There are no new cases in the Northern Rivers.

Ms Palaszczuk doubled down on a proposal to move the check points to the Tweed River.

“It’s easier if you move those check points to the river,” she said.

A group of politicians from has proposed checkpoints on the outer boundaries of the Tweed LGA as their preferred border bubble solution.

"Freedom" protesters gather on the NSW/QLD border to protest over border restriction last week. Picture: NCA Newswire / Scott Powick

Ms Palaszczuk said planned protests at the state border were “disappointing” and noted NSW still have stay at home orders in place.