There are fears Covid has escaped Sydney’s eastern suburbs and reached much further after the virus was detected in wastewater in several widespread suburbs.
NSW Health confirmed on Thursday that Covid fragments have been detected in the north-western suburbs of Castle Hill, Rouse Hill and Glenhaven, and to the south in Cronulla and Bellambi.
The plants service a combined population of more than 400,000 people, NSW Health said, as it urged residents in those areas to get tested if they feel unwell.
Active Covid cases have also been confirmed in those suburbs, NSW Health said in a statement.
Covid had been detected in wastewater in Cronulla, as well as several other suburbs around Sydney
‘NSW Health is aware of recently confirmed COVID-19 cases who are in isolation in the Castle Hill Glenhaven, Rouse Hill, Cronulla and Bellambi catchments,’ NSW Health said.
‘However, we urge everyone in these areas to be especially vigilant for any cold like symptoms.’
The department mentioned dozens of suburbs that were now of concern.
‘The Rouse Hill catchment serves about 100,000 people,’ NSW Health said.
‘[Rouse Hill] covers suburbs including Norwest, Acacia Gardens, Parklea, Bella Vista, Glenwood, Baulkham Hills, Stanhope Gardens, Beaumont Hills, Kellyville Ridge, North Kellyville, Rouse Hill, The Ponds, Glenhaven, Kenthurst, Box Hill, Kellyville, Annangrove, Castle Hill, Quakers Hill.’
‘The Cronulla catchment serves about 233,000 people,’ NSW Health said.
‘[Cronulla] covers suburbs including Bundeena, Caringbah South, Burraneer, Dolans Bay, Lilli Pilli, Maianbar, Port Hacking, Greenhills Beach, Woolooware, Cronulla, Caringbah, Kurnell, Botany Bay, Miranda, Royal National Park, Clifton, Coalcliff, Stanwell Park, Otford, Waterfall, Lilyvale, Helensburgh, Woronora Dam, Stanwell Tops, Caringbah South, Yarrawarrah, Grays Point, Kirrawee, Woronora Heights, Barden Ridge, Gymea Bay, Sutherland, Loftus, Bangor, Yowie Bay, Woronora, Engadine, Heathcote, Maddens Plains, Taren Point, Sylvania Waters, Caringbah, Kangaroo Point, Como, Bonnet Bay, Kirrawee, Jannali, Oyster Bay, Kareela, Woronora Heights, Barden Ridge, Gymea, Sutherland, Loftus, Bangor, Woronora, Engadine, Alfords Point, Lucas Heights, Menai, Illawong, Miranda, Sylvania and Holsworthy.’
‘The Bellambi catchment serves about 82,000 people,’ it said.
‘[Bellambi] covers suburbs including Keiraville, Balgownie, Mount Pleasant, Mount Keira, Mount Ousley, West Wollongong, Gwynneville, East Corrimal, Fernhill, North Wollongong, Fairy Meadow, Towradgi, Wollongong, Woonona, Bellambi, Russell Vale, Thirroul, Bulli, Austinmer, Coledale, Corrimal, Wombarra, Scarborough, and Tarrawanna.’