NSW Health are urging any attendees of the Bathurst 1000 race or locals who live in the area to monitor for symptoms and get tested as soon as possible after remnants of the COVID-19 virus were detected in raw sewage in the area on Wednesday.
"The sample comprises wastewater from over the past weekend, and could indicate current or a previous infection in someone who attended or worked at the Bathurst 1000 motor race, a visitor to Bathurst, or even a local resident," a statement from the department read.
"Visitors to and residents of Bathurst must be aware of any symptoms of illness, and immediately isolate and get tested should even the mildest of symptoms appear that you think might just be a cold.
"Symptoms like a runny nose or scratchy throat, cough, tiredness, fever or other symptoms could be COVID-19."
NSW Health is now investigating the incident and reviewing lists of all those known to have had the virus that attended or worked at the race.
Sewage testing for molecular markers of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, started in July. There is no evidence COVID-19 is transmitted via wastewater systems.