32 suburbs on alert after Covid-19 fragments detected in wastewater

Dozens of suburbs have been issued an alert after virus fragments were found in wastewater despite the area having no known cases.

More than 30 suburbs in Sydney’s western suburbs have been issued an alert after traces of Covid-19 were detected in wastewater.

NSW Health released the warning on Thursday after fragments of the virus were detected in the Boronia Park catchment.

That catchment areas services the following suburbs: Melrose Park, Camellia, Northmead, Constitution Hill, North Parramatta, Telopea, Denistone, Denistone West, Dundas Valley, Dundas, Carlingford, Oatlands, North Rocks, Ermington, Parramatta, Baulkham Hills, Rydalmere, Winston Hills, Woolwich, Huntleys Point, Huntleys Cove, Henley, East Ryde, Meadowbank, Gladesville, Tennyson Point, Putney, Hunters Hill, Denistone East, Ryde, Eastwood, West Ryde.

People in the Boronia Park catchment are being urged to monitor for symptoms. Picture: John Grainger

This is the first detection at this site, according to NSW Health.

A spokesperson said it was concerning because they had not recently diagnosed cases in the area, meaning someone could be unknowingly infectious.

“NSW Health is not aware of recently diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in this area,” they said.

Anyone who lives or works in any of these listed areas is asked to monitor for even the slightest of symptoms, and to immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received if they appear.