“No heightened concerned” about coronavirus in Bendigo wastewater

BENDIGO Health is urging the public stay vigilant after coronavirus fragments were again found in Bendigo’s wastewater overnight.

CEO Peter Faulkner said they were contacted by the State Department of Health last night, however there is no cause for concern.

“What we know, we were advised by the State Department that there had been wastewater fragments detected in the Bendigo area,” he said. “It’s our understanding it was in that Eaglehawk, Maiden Gully type area.”

Residents of California Gully, Eaglehawk, Epsom, Huntly, Jackass Flat, Maiden Gully, Marong, North Bendigo and Sailors Gully are being asked to monitor for symptoms and get tested if needed.

There is some confusion around how the wastewater became infected, as no past exposure or positive COVID cases have been found in the areas.

“We have no reason to believe that there is any heightened concern other than the general awareness that we all must have that this is an invisible, infective agent that is out and about, there are still approximately 80 active cases in Victoria.”

Two residents have been identified as being at a common exposure site visited by the infected couple that fled lockdown from Melbourne to Queensland, who tested positive on 8 June.

“This was a location in New South Wales, it’s a low-risk site however those people did the right thing, they were contacted by NSW Health, they contacted us immediately,” Mr Faulkner said.

“We tested them last night and they remain in quarantine but both tested negative. It emphasises the virus is out and about, and we need to be very vigilant.”

The two residents were returning from an interstate trip and are currently quarantining in Bendigo, however Mr Faulkner is confident they will be released from isolation in the coming days.