NSW Health has advised that fragments of the COVID-19 virus have been detected in Bega and Cooma's sewage, prompting further calls for locals to get tested.
It marks the third detection of COVID-19 in Cooma's sewage, with previous detections announced on the 26 August and 29 August.
There have also been three detections of viral fragments in Merimbula's sewage and one in Thredbo's sewage over the past two weeks.
There are no confirmed COVID cases in South East NSW, but Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant says the positive detections are a concern.
"Please come and get tested if you have any symptoms and isolate until you receive a negative result."
Not just hayfever
Bega's sewage treatment plant serves approximately 4,200 people in Bega and parts of North Bega, while the treatment plant in Cooma serves about 8,000 people.
Hamish Steiner from The Bombala Street Surgery in Cooma says the third detection in Cooma's sewage is not a coincidence.
"If it's just one, you might think it's someone driving through town," he said.
"But I think if we're getting three in a row, it makes it very likely that there is someone in town shedding the virus. That's obviously a worry."
Dr Steiner says now is not the time for locals to ignore their symptoms and avoid getting a COVID test.
"But you should get tested if you've got even the slightest of symptoms."
Concerns for the elderly
The Bega Valley Shire Council Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick said he was advised by NSW Health yesterday that Bega's sewage sampling from the 29 August to the 30 August initially returned a negative result, but today was informed it was actually positive.
Bega's sewage treatment plant was included for the first time this week in the NSW COVID-19 Surveillance Program, which meant it would be regularly sampled along with Merimbula, Eden and Bermagui.
Mayor Fitzpatrick says the latest detection gives the strongest indication yet that the virus is in the community.
"We just need everyone who has got the mildest of symptoms to get tested ... so it doesn't spread, especially to our older people in the community."
Testing clinics have been set up in Bega and Cooma.
