NSW Health, media release, 18 September 2021:
Northern NSW Local Health District is urging people in the Lismore City and Byron Bay areas to get tested for COVID-19, after fragments of the virus were detected in samples from the East Lismore, South Lismore and Byron Bay sewage treatment plants.
The samples were collected on 15 September in East and South Lismore and 16 September in Byron Bay. The East Lismore treatment plant serves about 17,000 people, the South Lismore treatment plant serves about 15,500 people and the Byron Bay treatment plant serves around 9,000 people.
While there are no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Northern NSW Local Health District, these new detections are concerning and follow a detection at the Wardell treatment plant on 14 September.
Detections could indicate there are positive cases in the community who have not been tested. Detections can also be due to shedding of the virus by someone who may have previously had the illness and may no longer be infectious.
The detection could be due to someone in the area or someone who has since left the area, but we need everyone to remain vigilant and get tested at the first sign of even mild symptoms.....
