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Queensland health authorities have revealed they are increasingly concerned about the continued detection of coronavirus in more than a dozen sewage catchments across the state.
But the repeated traces of the deadly virus in Brisbane’s Cleveland as well as Carole Park in Ipswich is “particularly concerning” because these suburbs have no hotel quarantine facilities.
“In the past two weeks, 16 sewage catchments have detected viral fragments of COVID-19 in various locations across the state,” acting chief health officer Dr Sonya Bennett said in a statement on Friday night.
“Cleveland and Carole Park are of particular concern as we have no hotel quarantine locations that feed into these sewage systems.
“That means there could potentially be an undetected case in the community.”
“That is why we are urging anyone with any symptoms, no matter how mild, to come forward and get tested.
“This is especially important now more than ever, as we know the new variants emerging overseas are more contagious than previous variants we have seen in Queensland.”
Dr Bennett said it was critical any community cases were discovered so health authorities could contain any potential spread.
But she also noted these detections could relate to previous cases who are shedding viral fragments for a couple of months after they are no longer infectious.
Coronavirus has also been repeatedly detected in the Gold Coast’s Coombabah, as well as Gibson Island and Pulgul (Hervey Bay), while Cairns North, Maryborough and Loganholme have seen multiple detections in the last four weeks.
“While some of these catchments are in areas where cases have been detected among international arrivals, it is very important that everyone monitors their health, and comes forward for testing if they have any symptoms at all,” Dr Bennett said.
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