Locals on alert as Covid fragments found in Cowes

Local residents are on alert after viral fragments of COVID-19 were detected in wastewater samples from Cowes.

The viral fragments were found in wastewater samples taken on January 27. They were also discovered in samples from Pakenham and Castlemaine.

The Chief Health Officer urged anyone who lives on Phillip Island or who visited any of the three areas between January 25-27, to get tested for COVID-19 if they have any symptoms, however mild.

Although Victoria has not recorded a case of community transmission in more than three weeks, and there’s been no positive cases in Bass Coast since August 2020, residents are being urged to remain vigilant.

Jan Child, CEO of Bass Coast Health (BCH) confirmed there were no active cases in the region, however she said wastewater testing can show the possible presence of COVID-19 in our local community.

“A person who has recovered from COVID-19 can shed the virus for weeks after they were infectious. The detected fragments in Cowes could be from a local person or a visitor. The only way to learn whether we have any local active cases is via testing,” Ms Child said.

“Our testing numbers have dropped in the past two weeks, which is to be expected. However, we actively encourage our community to get tested even with minor symptoms, for example a runny nose, scratchy throat or cough.

“Our testing tent in Wonthaggi can respond to increase in demand; we have staff on standby and can increase our hours when needed. Testing is available through the Phillip Island Health Hub 24/7”.

Wastewater sampling

The wastewater sample was collected as part of a weekly wastewater monitoring program by the state government. Samples are taken from 95 wastewater locations across the state, as an early detection method against coronavirus.

The state government said the weak detections of the virus at Cowes, Pakenham and Castlemaine have been confirmed by further analysis.

Viral fragments were also recently detected in Leongatha. Anyone who was in Leongatha between January 17 and 19 is urged to get tested if they have any symptoms.

Testing times

Since the start of the pandemic, BCH has conducted over 16,000 tests. At the peak of the second wave in August 2020, 1092 tests were done in one week.

There was a surge in demand for tests in early January this year, as Victoria raced to contain an outbreak from the Black Rock cluster. Between Wonthaggi and Cowes, there were over 400 people tested in one day.

Since then, testing rates have fallen back to their pre-Christmas rate of around 50 or less.

In January, the Cowes Urgent Care Centre tested 800 people. The Wonthaggi clinic did 1971 tests over the same period.

Travel zones

The last of the NSW “red zones” has now been downgraded, but a number of WA regions have entered lockdown after WA recorded a positive case of coronavirus.

Perth, the Peel region and South West region of WA have now been designated as red zones and domestic travel restrictions now apply under Victoria’s ‘traffic light’ travel permit system.

The government has sent text messages to the 1700 people who arrived in Victoria from WA with between January 25 and 31 and came from an area now designated a red zone. Travellers were advised to get tested and stay isolated until they receive a negative test result.

If you have been in one of these currently listed WA red zones since January 25, you will not be allowed to enter Victoria without an exception, exemption or permitted worker permit.

Even though WA is currently the only state with designated red zones, anyone entering Victoria from other states and territories still requires a travel permit.

Anyone needing a permit can apply at service.vic.gov.au.