COVID-19 fragments have been detected in Canberra's city wastewater, which authorities say are likely linked to the cases in hotel quarantine.
ACT Health said virus fragments were found in the city centre sewage on March 9.
There are currently five active cases of COVID-19 in hotel quarantine including two travellers who tested postive on Sunday, which officals have confirmed have the South African variant.
The man and woman in their 40s were family of, or seated near, two other individuals on the flight who earlier tested positive and genomic testing identified as having the South African variant of the virus.
The result of genome sequencing from the positive case reported on Wednesday is expected in the coming days.
"This is a timely reminder for all ACT residents to be tested for COVID-19 should they have any symptoms, no matter how mild," ACT Health said in a statement.
Read more:
- One more case detected in hotel quarantine in the ACT
- Extended stay in hotel quarantine as new COVID-19 cases 'likely' for ACT
"Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, and loss of smell or taste, while less commons symptoms include runny or blocked nose, muscle pain, joint pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite."
Wastewater will be tested again next week as part of the ongoing surveillance program.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark canberratimes.com.au
- Download our app
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
