TWO more COVID-19 positive people have been detected in Ballarat in the last twenty-four hours, but they are linked to known cases.<\/p>\n
The announcement of the detections came during a daily briefing conducted by Ballarat Health Services this afternoon.<\/p>\n
While there were no new Ballarat exposure events added to the Department of Health and Human Services website overnight, there has been a new positive wastewater test – this time from the Ballarat north treatment site.<\/p>\n
It is believed the detection was made in the last 24 hours and relates to wastewater tested on Friday. None of the currently known local COVID-19 cases live in the Ballarat north catchment zone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first time during this during this particular period we\u2019ve had a wastewater detection,\u201d said medical director of the Grampians Public Health Unit, Associate Professor Rosemary Aldrich.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be subject to the usual confirmatory processes, but what we\u2019ve learned from wastewater detection in the south Ballarat catchment is that is was followed by a us detecting cases.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wastewater sent to the Ballarat north treatment facility comes from communities including Wendouree, Ballarat North, Miners Rest, Learmonth and Creswick.<\/p>\n
Even though there\u2019s just two new cases and no further exposures sites, authorities acknowledged there\u2019s also no firm exit time from the city\u2019s lockdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe won\u2019t get out of lockdown until it\u2019s safe to do so,\u201d said acting head of BHS Melanie Robertson.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe urge the public to not wait for notification via a text message or phone call, we know the contract tracing system is under significant pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you know that you\u2019ve been to an exposure site at the date and time listed on the government website, please go ahead and get tested.\u201d<\/p>\n
With authorities saying testing is the only way out of the current lockdown, they urged people to take advantage of short current waiting times at Ballarat testing sites.<\/p>\n
BHS health authorities also asked people to note there\u2019s no Pfizer walk in jabs available at city\u2019s vaccination hub after a nation media outlet said there were.<\/p>\n