Covid-19 fragments found in Sydney sewage system with no known cases

More than 77,000 Australians have been put on alert after Covid-19 fragments were found in a sewage system.

The fragments were found in the Ropes Creek sewage treatment plant in Sydney’s west with those in nearby suburbs urged to monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if they appear.

NSW Health said the detection of traces of the virus is concerning as there are no known cases in the area.

The wastewater plant serves residents in suburbs Minchinbury, Dharruk, Hassall Grove, Blackett, Bidwill, Plumpton, Oakhurst, Hebersham, Emerton, Ropes Crossing, North St Marys, St Clair, Oxley Park, Colyton, Mount Druitt, Rooty Hill.

Other suburbs affected include Lethbridge Park, Tregear, Whalan, Erskine Park, Shalvey, Willmot, Shanes Park, Marsden Park, St Marys and Eastern Creek.

‘People in these areas are asked to be especially vigilant for the onset of any cold-like symptoms, and if they appear, to be tested immediately and isolate until a negative result is received,’ NSW Health said. 

Meanwhile, New South Wales has recorded 89 new Covid-19 infections and one man in his 70s has died.

Sydney’s outbreak has spread outside of the city after an essential construction site worker who travelled from the city’s south to Goulburn tested positive to the virus. 

The person who tested positive is understood to be a painter who travelled to work on the construction of the new Goulburn Hospital, Goulburn, Mayor Bob Kirk told AAP.  

The growing COVID-19 outbreak has so far been confined to Greater Sydney and its surrounds, but Mr Kirk says he fears essential work permits may be putting regional towns at risk.

‘The COVID disease doesn’t ask people if they have a travel exemption or not, it just attaches to whoever it can,’ he said on Tuesday.

‘But I understand he is a painter … I don’t know how that qualifies as essential right now.’

‘I know there are more than a few painters around this place that could step up if needed.’ 

More to come.