NSW Health says Covid-19 fragments detected in Byron and Lismore

Health authorities have reiterated a plea for people to get tested if they have even mild symptoms after virus fragments were detected in four locations.

Fragments of the virus that causes Covid-19 have been detected in three Northern Rivers locations.

Northern NSW Local Health District acting chief executive Lynne Weir said virus fragments had been found in samples taken from Byron Bay, East Lismore and South Lismore sewage treatment plants.

Ms Weir has urged people in those two areas to get tested if they have even slight symptoms.

“The samples were collected on September 15 in East and South Lismore and

September 16 in Byron Bay,” Ms Weir said.

“The East Lismore treatment plant serves about 17,000 people, the South Lismore treatment plant serves about 15,500 people and the Byron Bay treatment plant serves around 9000 people.”

The detections follow another recent detection at Wardell.

She said there were no new confirmed cases of Covid-19 within the local health district since the case which caused Goonellabah Public School to be shut down for cleaning during the week.

That case has also led the Lismore local government area to go into a week-long lockdown.

A second positive case was recently in the Lismore region but is no longer in Northern NSW.

“While there are no new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Northern NSW Local Health District, these new detections are concerning and follow a detection at the Wardell treatment plant on 14 September,” Ms Weir said.

“Detections could indicate there are positive cases in the community who have not been tested.”

She said the detections could also be the result of the virus shedding from someone who was previously ill but is no longer infectious.

“The detection could be due to someone in the area or someone who has since left the area, but we need everyone to remain vigilant and get tested at the first sign of even mild symptoms,” she said.

Testing clinics are operating across the weekend at:

• Lismore Base Hospital, Uralba Street, Lismore opening at 9.00am
• Lismore 4Cyte Pathology Drive-through Clinic, 47-49 Dawson Street, 2480, Lismore opening 8.00am to 2.00pm
  
• Sullivan and Nicolaides Pathology, 62 Wyrallah Road, Shop 12, Wyrallah Road Shopping Centre opening at 8.00am
  
• Goonellabah QML Pathology Drive-through and Walk in Clinic, 50 Oliver Avenue, Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre (GSAC), Goonellabah opening at 8.00am – 3.00pm
  
• Byron Central Hospital Fever Clinic, Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay opening at 9.00am
  
• Cavanbah Centre, 249 Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay Saturday 18 September open until 3.00pm and Sunday 19 September from 9.00am – 2.00pm.
  
• Testing clinics will be operating at Cabbage Tree Island Health Post from 10am – 3pm on Saturday 18 September and Sunday 19 September.
  
• A drive through testing clinic will also be open from 10am – 2pm at the Wardell tennis courts on Saturday 18 September and Sunday 19 September.
  

Originally published as NSW Health says Covid-19 fragments detected in Byron and Lismore