This was published 3 years ago
COVID-19 particles found in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast sewerage
By Lydia Lynch and Toby Crockford
An investigation is under way to determine why viral fragments of COVID-19 have been found in Brisbane’s sewage.
Coronavirus fragments were found in wastewater in the Brisbane suburbs of Wynnum and Sandgate as well as Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast.
Queensland CHO Jeannette Young said the traces could be from an undetected COVID-19 case.Credit: Jonathan Ng
Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the results could mean there is undetected community transmission circulating in the south-east but there was not cause to panic.
"We have to be vigilant. We’ve tested sewerage across the state for several months and now we’re starting to see positives," Dr Young said.
"We’ve got to remember these positive tests are not people, they’re in sewerage.
"It’s probably someone who’s had a confirmed case who has recovered and is still shedding virus.
"We genuinely don’t know how long someone can continue to shed the virus."
Four cases remain active across the state and no new cases were detected overnight. The state's total number of cases remains at 1164 and there were 4722 tests conducted in the 24 hours to Saturday morning.
The samples that came back positive were taken at the Sandgate treatment plant on October 12 and the Maroochydore and Wynnum plants on October 13.
Health Minister Steven Miles said an interstate Townsville case did not contract the virus in Queensland and further sewerage testing in Townsville had come back negative.
"We also got back serology results from that woman from Townsville who has tested positive in Melbourne, who had travelled to Cairns, Brisbane and Canberra," he said.
"That serology test has come back negative."
Meanwhile, a surprise easing of restrictions was not run past LNP Leader Deb Frecklington during her morning health briefing with the chief health officer.
Dancing was allowed at weddings and school formals and more people were allowed to gather inside homes as of 4pm on Friday, October 16.
Health Minister Steven Miles announced the rule relaxation on Friday morning, two days before polls open, despite the government insisting that COVID restrictions would be reviewed at the end of each month.
Ms Frecklington had requested pandemic briefings during the state’s caretaker period.
"If it is based on health advice, we are really pleased to see those restrictions eased," she said.
"I did have a briefing with the Chief Health Officer this morning and those easing of restrictions were not mentioned in that briefing."
In response, Mr Miles said the final decision to ease those restrictions on Friday came after Ms Frecklington's briefing because health officials were awaiting the latest COVID-19 information.
"I understand she [Ms Frecklington] requested her briefing prior to the daily update [on Friday]. I've encouraged her to have that briefing later in the day when that information is available," he said.
"She has so far declined that offer, but I have since written to her to indicate that is the most appropriate time for that briefing to occur.
"If I asked for a briefing at 6.30am, I wouldn’t be able to get the kind of information that the Leader of the opposition’s requesting.
"So I would urge her not to play politics with this, just accept that the information becomes available to us throughout the morning, not at 6.30am."