Coronavirus alert for 25 Melbourne suburbs after wastewater detection

Authorities have issued an urgent alert for 25 Melbourne suburbs after three more concerning detections in areas with no active Covid cases.

Victorian health authorities have uncovered three more concerning sewage detections of Covid-19 as Melbourne emerges from tough lockdown restrictions.

The health department said there had been three new positive detections of coronavirus viral fragments in wastewater samples taken in the Pascoe Vale, Scoresby and Vermont areas in a statement late on Thursday.

“These new detections are of interest as there are currently no confirmed Covid-19 cases in those areas,” the health department said.

“While the unexpected detections may be due to someone who has had Covid-19 that is no longer infectious continuing to shed the virus or it may be due to an active but undiagnosed infectious case.”

Residents and recent visitors to the following suburbs between June 3 and 7 have been urged to monitor for symptoms and get tested if any develop:

• Glenroy, Hadfield, Oak Park, Pascoe Vale;
• Burwood East, Forest Hill, Glen Waverley, Scoresby, Vermont South, Wantirna South, Wheelers Hill;
• Balwyn, Balwyn North, Blackburn, Blackburn, North, Box Hill, Box Hill North, Bulleen, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Donvale, Mitcham, Mont Albert, Mont Albert North, Nunawading.

It comes just a day after viral fragments were discovered in a wastewater sample in Bendigo in regional Victoria where there are also no active positive cases.

Wastewater detections act as an early warning system, the health department said. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Residents and recent visitors between June 3 and 7 to the suburbs of California Gully, Eaglehawk, Epsom, Huntly, Jackass Flat, Maiden Gully, Marong, North Bendigo and Sailors Gully are also urged to monitor for symptoms and get tested if any develop.

“The wastewater testing program is designed as an early warning system and a cautious approach is always taken when these detections are found,” the health department said.

There are 78 active cases in Victoria, with 64 locally acquired and 14 in hotel quarantine.

Melbourne’s lockdown restrictions were eased overnight with people able to move around freely within 25km of their home and the five reasons to leave removed.

But face masks must still be worn indoors and outdoors in metropolitan Melbourne.

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