Search

COVID-19: Two weeks of no community transmission in NSW, but virus still in Sydney’s sewage - The Australian

NSW has now gone two weeks without a case of community transmission. Picture: Damian Shaw
NSW has now gone two weeks without a case of community transmission. Picture: Damian Shaw

NSW has now gone two weeks without recording a single coronavirus case transmitted in the community, but traces of the virus remain in sewage water across Sydney.

There were three new cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday night in the state, all of which were acquired overseas and in hotel quarantine.

The last time a locally acquired case was detected in NSW was 14 days ago, marking one full transmission cycle with no detections.

Read Next

But health officials are still concerned about a drop in testing numbers, a crucial tool in tracking the virus’s spread through communities, especially as wastewater fragments continue to test positive.

NSW Health are concerned about a drop in testing rates. Picture by Damian Shaw
NSW Health are concerned about a drop in testing rates. Picture by Damian Shaw

Testing rates dropped to just 8,811 tests on Saturday, down from more than 10,000 the day before.

“With restrictions on gatherings having eased across Greater Sydney, it is even more important that people keep up their guard and remain on the lookout for any signs or symptoms which could indicate COVID-19,” A NSW Health spokeswoman said in a statement on Sunday.

She also announced traces of the virus had been found overnight in Sydney’s sewage network at Warriewood, Liverpool and Malabar.

Staff wait for the next car at a quiet Bondi Beach drive through COVID-19 testing site on Saturday. Picture by Damian Shaw
Staff wait for the next car at a quiet Bondi Beach drive through COVID-19 testing site on Saturday. Picture by Damian Shaw

A spokeswoman for NSW Health said while the detections could reflect “known recent confirmed cases in these areas”, everyone living in the suburbs is urged to monitor for symptoms, and get tested and isolate if they appear.

“While NSW has now seen 14 days without a known locally acquired case of COVID-19, the virus may still be circulating in the community among people with mild or no symptoms,” she said.

“We have previously seen successive days of no local cases, only to see cases re-emerge.”

NSW Health encouraged anyone with any symptoms that could signal a COVID infection, including a runny nose or scratchy throat, cough, or fever, to come forward straight away for a test.

“This is the best way to detect and stop any possible spread of the virus,” the spokeswoman said.

“Every person who comes forward for testing is playing an important role in helping to contain the spread of COVID-19.”

Sydneysiders wearing masks walking through the Mid City Centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard
Sydneysiders wearing masks walking through the Mid City Centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

The total number of positive COVID-19 cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic now sits at 4,915.

It comes after a relaxation of public health rules on Friday that have allowed for bigger public and private gatherings, and the scrapping of laws requiring shoppers to wear masks in supermarkets.

Read Next

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__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?oc=5

2021-01-31 01:16:00Z
CBMisgFodHRwczovL3d3dy50aGVhdXN0cmFsaWFuLmNvbS5hdS9icmVha2luZy1uZXdzL2NvdmlkMTktdHdvLXdlZWtzLW9mLW5vLWNvbW11bml0eS10cmFuc21pc3Npb24taW4tbnN3LWJ1dC12aXJ1cy1zdGlsbC1pbi1zeWRuZXlzLXNld2FnZS9uZXdzLXN0b3J5L2M2NjZmZjQ0Y2M4MmY3NzNmNGIxNDE2OTViMTI0MzU00gGyAWh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLnRoZWF1c3RyYWxpYW4uY29tLmF1L2JyZWFraW5nLW5ld3MvY292aWQxOS10d28td2Vla3Mtb2Ytbm8tY29tbXVuaXR5LXRyYW5zbWlzc2lvbi1pbi1uc3ctYnV0LXZpcnVzLXN0aWxsLWluLXN5ZG5leXMtc2V3YWdlL25ld3Mtc3RvcnkvYzY2NmZmNDRjYzgyZjc3M2Y0YjE0MTY5NWIxMjQzNTQ

Bagikan Berita Ini

0 Response to "COVID-19: Two weeks of no community transmission in NSW, but virus still in Sydney’s sewage - The Australian"

Post a Comment

Powered by Blogger.