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Over 180,000 people urged to get tested after Covid find

NSW Health is urging people in 39 suburbs to get tested for Covid-19 after traces of the virus were found in a Sydney water treatment plant.

The state reported no new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday taking the streak of no community transmission to nine days in a row.

But the health department is concerned after fragments of the highly contagious virus were found in the water treatment plant at Liverpool in Sydney’s west.

A health worker carries out a COVID-19 testing at the Merrylands drive-through clinic in Sydney, Australia.
People get tested for Covid at a clinic in Merrylands, Sydney. Source: Getty Images

“The Liverpool waste treatment plant takes in a catchment of close to 180,000 people,” the department said.

Authorities have issued a warning regarding the 39 suburbs covered by the plant.

“NSW Health urges everyone living or working in these suburbs to monitor for symptoms and get tested and isolate immediately if they appear.”

Suburbs covered by Liverpool water treatment plant

  • Bardia

  • Hinchinbrook

  • Hoxton Park

  • Abbotsbury

  • Ingleburn

  • Prestons

  • Holsworthy

  • Edmondson Park

  • Austral

  • Cecil Park

  • Cecil Hills

  • Elizabeth Hills

  • Bonnyrigg Heights

  • Edensor Park

  • Green Valley

  • Pleasure Point

  • Casula

  • Hammondville

  • Liverpool

  • Moorebank

  • Wattle Grove

  • Miller

  • Cartwright

  • Lurnea

  • Warwick Farm

  • Chipping Norton

  • Voyager Point

  • Macquarie Links

  • Glenfield

  • Catherine Field

  • Gledswood Hills

  • Varroville

  • Leppington

  • West Hoxton

  • Horningsea Park

  • Middleton Grange

  • Len Waters Estate

  • Carnes Hill

  • Denham Court

Authorities concerned by low Covid testing rates

The health department is also concerned about low testing rates. Only 7,819 were conducted in the past 24 hours which NSW Health said “is a concern”.

“Although NSW has had nine days without a diagnosed locally acquired case of Covid-19, the virus may still be circulating in the community and now is not the time to drop our guard,” it said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters on Monday she was concerned about people not adhering to social distancing rules on Australia Day.

A woman seated on a public bench wears a face mask while reading a book in Sydney.
People wear masks near the Sydney light rail service. Source: AAP

“The health orders are there to keep everybody safe, and I ask everybody to respect those public health orders. The police will be there to make sure those health orders will be reserved,” she told reporters.

“If you break the rules, if you don’t respect the health orders, there are penalties in place. I don’t want to see that happen, I have faith and confidence that cool heads will prevail.

“I appreciate the strength of feeling in the community about those matters, but everybody has to respect the health orders.”

Thousands are expected to pack the streets protesting Australia Day despite Covid-19 public health orders limiting outdoor gatherings to 500 people.

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