Warning for more than one million Sydneysiders after Covid detected
An alert has been issued for more than a million Sydneysiders after Covid-19 was detected in waste treatment plants servicing huge areas across the city.
NSW Health revealed on Sunday the virus has been found in two more treatment plants - Warriewood and North Head - after concerns were raised over traces at plants in Liverpool and Glenfield on Saturday.
The Warriewood treatment plant services about 70,000 people from the Northern Beaches, while the North Head treatment plant services about 1.3 million people from a large area of Sydney, north of the Paramatta River from Western Sydney to Manly.
What suburbs are affected?
Suburbs serviced by the Warriewood Treatment Plant include Avalon Beach, Bayview, Belrose, Bilgola Beach, Bilgola Plateau, Church Point, Clareville, Elanora Heights, Frenchs Forest, Ingleside, Ku Ring Gai Chase, Mona Vale, Narrabeen, Newport, North Narrabeen, Oxford Falls, Palm Beach, Pittwater, Terrey Hills, Warriewood, Whale Beach.
The health department said traces were likely reflective of known recent cases, but urged the public to monitor for any symptoms and get tested immediately if they appear.
Fragments detected in the Liverpool plant recently sparked a warning to 180,000 people whose waste is serviced by the facility.
Suburbs of Bardia, Hinchinbrook, Hoxton Park, Abbotsbury, Ingleburn, Prestons, Holsworthy, Edmondson Park, Austral, Cecil Park, Cecil Hills, Elizabeth Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Edensor Park, Green Valley and Pleasure Point are among those serviced.
As well as: 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, and Denham Court.
NSW records full week with 0 local cases
NSW has recorded a full week without new locally-acquired Covid-19 cases, with zero new local cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday.
The department reiterated that testing rates remain too low and encouraged NSW residents to seek testing with even the mildest of symptoms.
There are more than 350 Covid-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week, including this holiday long weekend.
The public is urged to check the NSW Government website for details of venues of concern and affected public transport routes.
NSW Health is treating 78 Covid-19 cases, none of whom are in intensive care.
Most cases are being treated in non-acute, out-of-hospital care, including returned travellers in the Special Health Accommodation.
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