Victoria tells 246 people to get tested after ‘sudden’ and ‘unexpected’ surge of COVID in wastewater

More than 200 people in Victorian suburbs have been told to urgently get tested due to ‘strong and unexpected’ COVID-19 results.

More than 200 Victorians have been told to urgently get tested for coronavirus, as the state reports a sudden and unexpected surge of viral fragments in wastewater.

Authorities have contacted 246 people living in Melbourne’s western and northwestern suburbs, who have been urged to get tested as a precaution.

Dozens of new suburbs in the city were listed as at-risk on Thursday night, adding to the growing list of suburbs where COVID-19 fragments have been found in recent days.

Although the department initially said the detection of fragments was likely due to viral shedding after the infectious period, stronger action was necessary because a known positive COVID-19 case had been in the community.

“This additional action is being taken due to the strength of the wastewater detection and because a known positive COVID-19 case, from flight QF778, has been in Victoria in the past 14 days,” Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton said.

“In response to strong and unexpected COVID-19 fragment wastewater detections reported yesterday in Melbourne’s western and northwestern suburbs, 246 people who were in those areas have been contacted and are being asked to be tested as a precaution.”

Dozens of new suburbs in the city were listed as at-risk on Thursday night. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Matray

Those being tested include four primary close contacts of an infected man who flew from Perth to Victoria on April 21, as well as 242 recently returned red and orange zone travel permit holders.

All of those primary close contacts had recently been tested and all returned negative results, but the department has asked them to get tested again out of an abundance of caution.

COVID-19 fragments have been detected in four additional catchments in Melbourne’s western, northern, northwestern, and outer eastern suburbs, and there have been repeat detections in Benalla.

These are in addition to viral fragment detections reported over recent days in other catchments the eastern, western, northwestern and outer northern suburbs.

“It is most likely that these new detections are due to a person or persons continuing to shed the virus after the infection period however, it could also be due to a person living in or travelling through the area in the early active infectious phase,” Professor Sutton said.

“The wastewater testing program is designed as an early warning system to support our ongoing efforts in continuing to protect the COVIDSafe environment we have achieved and therefore a cautious approach is always taken when these detections are found.”

COVID-19 fragments have been detected in four additional catchments in Melbourne’s western, northern, northwestern, and outer eastern suburbs, and there have been repeat detections in Benalla. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

New Detections:

Northwestern suburbs 20–27 April 2021

Glenroy, Hadfield, Oak Park, Pascoe Vale

Benalla 10 – 15 April and 20-26 April 2021 (repeat detections)

Benalla

Western suburbs 20 – 27 April 2021

Altona, Altona North, Brooklyn, Newport, South Kingsville, Williamstown, Williamstown North

Northern suburbs 20 – 27 April 2021

Briar Hill, Bundoora, Diamond Creek, Greensborough, Lower Plenty, Macleod, Mill Park, Montmorency, Plenty, South Morang, St Helena, Viewbank, Watsonia, Watsonia North, Yallambie, Yarrambat

Outer eastern suburbs 20 – 26 April 2021

Chirnside Park, Coldstream, Kalorama, Lilydale, Montrose, Mooroolbark, Mount Dandenong, Mount Evelyn, Olinda, Yarra Glen, Yering

Active detections reported recently:

Western suburbs catchment 18-26 April 2021

Persons visiting or residing in Albanvale, Burnside, Burnside Heights, Cairnlea, Caroline Springs, Deer Park, Delahey, Hillside (Melton), Keilor Downs, Kings Park, Plumpton, Ravenhall, Sydenham, Taylors Hill or Taylors Lakes.

Northwestern suburbs catchment 18-26 April 2021

Persons visiting or residing in Avondale Heights, Calder Park, Hillside (Melton), Kealba, Keilor, Keilor Downs, Keilor East, Keilor Lodge, Keilor North, Keilor Park, Sydenham or Taylors Lakes.

Eastern suburbs catchment 20–24 April 2021

Persons visiting or residing in Balwyn, Balwyn North, Blackburn, Blackburn North, Box Hill, Box Hill North, Bulleen, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Donvale, Mitcham, Mont Albert, Mont Albert North, Nunawading or Templestowe Lower.

Outer northern suburbs catchment 17–22 April 2021

Persons visiting or residing in Epping, South Morang or Wollert.

as the state records one new case in hotel quarantine.

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