NT Health exploring possibility of testing sewage for COVID-19

TESTING for SARS-CoV-2 in sewage has been widely embraced interstate, but the Northern Territory Government has been hesitant to deploy the measure

NT Health is exploring whether Territorians’ poo could become an early warning sign for a potential COVID-19 outbreak, as the Territory’s peak health body backs its use.

Sewage testing for traces of the deadly virus has been rolled out widely in other states and territories.

On October 21, NSW Health ordered attendants of the Bathurst 1000 race to be on alert for flu symptoms after remnants of SARS-CoV-2 were found in the town’s sewage.

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Despite being embraced interstate, sewage monitoring for the virus has never been conducted in the Northern Territory, even though NT Health does test sewage for other infectious diseases.

“We are exploring its use in certain settings,” an NT Health spokeswoman said.

“It will not replace the need for quarantine or clinical COVID-19 testing as people continue to shed fragments of the virus for a period of time after they recover and this can be detected in wastewater testing,” she said.

The spokeswoman said while not a magic bullet, testing sewage could help communities be more vigilant against the virus.

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Chief Minister Michael Gunner told ABC Radio yesterday that testing sewage was a possibility but health officials had some “reservations about or caveats on it”.

“It can be helpful, it can also be misleading,” Mr Gunner said.

However, AMA NT president Robert Parker said testing should be embraced immediately.

“If we’re picking up COVID in the sewage, then we know it’s out and about in the community,” Dr Parker said.

“We would be supportive.”