Traces of COVID-19 have been detected in sewage at the Cairns North Wastewater Treatment Plant in a sample taken on 17 November 2020.

The wastewater plant serves the Aeroglen, Barron, Brinsmead, Cairns City, Cairns North, Edge Hill, Freshwater, Holloways Beach, Kamerunga, Machans Beach, Manoora, Manunda, Parramatta Park, Portsmith, Redlynch, Stratford and Whitfield.

A Queensland Health spokesman said the benefits of sewage testing is that it could indicate the possibility of undetected cases of COVID-19 in the region.

“People shouldn’t be alarmed but they shouldn’t be complacent either, if you are sick with symptoms which could be due to COVID 19 go and get tested and then stay home until you get your results,” he said.

The spokesman said it was imperative the community understood that the positive result does not necessary mean there are active cases in Cairns.

“There are no known outbreaks in Cairns and have not been for some time,” he said.

“However, this positive sample means that we cannot rule out the possibility that there was or is an infected person in the area who has not been tested.

“It could also be an indication that someone who has previously had COVID-19 has visited our area and is still shedding the dead virus or it is from someone who was positive in our quarantine hotel and is now recovered.

“This detection should serve as an alert and warning to the community to be vigilant for COVID-19 symptoms.”

The spokesman said anyone with any symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild, should get tested immediately.

“Getting a test does not mean you have to quarantine for 14 days, you just have to go home until we text your results which takes about 24 hours,” he said.

“People who tested negative for COVID-19 in March or April may still be at risk of contracting the disease and if they get sick again, they should get tested again.”

Symptoms may include fever, cough, breathing difficulties, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.

There is a drive-through testing clinic at Mossman Hospital, call 0459 803 382 to make appointment. There is also a drive through testing clinic in Cairns at 43 Aumuller St, Cairns and a walk-in Testing Clinic at Cairns Hospital. Phone 4226 4781 for an appointment at either clinic. (Please leave a message if the line is busy and they will call you back.)