Sewage testing for COVID-19 fragments — a key early warning sign to help prepare for outbreaks — is not being undertaken at some border towns in western Queensland, despite a rise in cases just over the state line to the south.
The absence of testing in the outback was uncovered by the ABC as experts declared Queensland's greatest risk to new infections was Sydney's Delta outbreak that was "creeping northwards".
Despite Queensland recording two consecutive doughnut days, there have been growing fears of the threat posed by the Delta variant that has now spread hundreds of kilometres throughout New South Wales.
On Monday, NSW recorded 478 cases and seven deaths.
Some of the new cases were detected in local government areas in the far west within the border zone — just a few hours drive south from the Queensland state line.
Walgett, which is about 140kms south of the Queensland border, has recorded cases, while Bourke, located about 130km south of the Queensland border, recorded its first case yesterday.
Sewage in outback towns not being tested
Despite the proximity of the western NSW outbreaks to several Queensland towns just near the border, Queensland Health has not been registering any sewage testing results for the areas.
Towns not listed on the Queensland Health website as providing any sewage testing results include Goondiwindi, Cunnamulla and St George.
Asked yesterday why there were no test results, a Queensland Health spokesperson said the department was "continually reviewing wastewater sampling locations".
"New sites may be selected in response to an emerging outbreak or other issues," the Department said.
"Queensland Health is also in regular contact with NSW Health, who provides us with data from their own wastewater testing program, which includes treatments from plants servicing communities close to the border."
A potential issue outback towns face when it comes to testing sewage is that some councils may have difficulty transporting samples within the required timeframe.
This is understood to be a factor in determining what areas would be included in the sewage testing program.
NSW outbreak could 'take us all down'
Earlier yesterday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced border regulations would be further tightened in an effort to "take every precaution possible" to stop the outbreak jumping across the border.
This includes ensuring essential workers have at least one vaccine dose before crossing the NSW border into Queensland.
"We know the positive sewage testing for Delta has been creeping northwards, so we are very concerned,'' Ms Palaszczuk said.
Reiterating the Premier's message, Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the NSW outbreak was "not under control".
"That's what we are seeing out of Sydney," Dr Young said.
"It was initially contained to Sydney, then to Greater Sydney and now it's escaped Greater Sydney and it's out in the regions and it's steadily coming further and further out.
"We have seen positive sewage [tests for COVID fragments] as far west as Broken Hill.
Their concerns were echoed by infectious diseases expert Professor Nigel McMillan, who said if one state did not get the disease under control, then it has the capacity to "take us all down with them".
Professor McMillan, who is part of a team working on a treatment for COVID-19, said border measures such as barriers might be needed to ensure no one was able to cross into Queensland in some of the more densely populated areas.
Dr Young has previously warned that Queensland could easily face other outbreaks and lockdowns.
