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NSW sewage testing 'doesn't seem' to show large numbers of undetected cases
By Mary Ward
NSW Deputy Chief Health Officer Jeremy McAnulty has provided some more information about the rationale behind the state's sewage tracing system, stressing the coronavirus fragments found at a western Sydney plant do not necessarily mean the area has large numbers of undetected infections.
Earlier this week, virus fragments detected at a sewage treatment plant at Glenfield prompted alerts for residents in a number of suburbs to be alert for symptoms. On Wednesday, it was announced the sewage testing program was being expanded, with smaller catchments to be tested for more precise results.
NSW Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jeremy McAnulty.Credit:Rhett Wyman
Asked if he thought it was possible lots of Sydneysiders had the virus without knowing, Dr McAnulty told Today "that doesn't seem to be the case".
"This sewage surveillance system has been a real boom to help us understand where the virus might be," he explained, adding it was largely being used as an indication as to where testing efforts should be focused.
"It is still experimental but we are using it more and more to get a better idea of where cases may be and, while there may be false negatives or false positives out of that sewage, it gives us an indication of where to do the testing."
How have mystery cases been tracking in Victoria?
There have been four mystery cases (infections that cannot be traced to a known outbreak) confirmed in Melbourne over the past fortnight, one more than yesterday.
The new mystery case that was confirmed is one of the seven cases that were confirmed by the health department on Sunday. The postcode where this case was recorded will likely be released later this afternoon.
Here is how mystery cases have tracked in Victoria since the start of this month:
The health department is currently investigating the infection source of three cases, and these could end up being classed as mystery cases if authorities cannot determine how any of these three people contracted the virus.
The 14-day average has fallen to 2.4, down from 2.7 yesterday:
Three new coronavirus cases confirmed in Victoria
Three new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Victoria, and there have been no new deaths from the virus since yesterday.
The 14-day average has fallen to 2.4, but there has been one additional mystery case confirmed over the past fortnight.
High-risk locations for coronavirus in Victoria
Here is the full list of recent public exposure sites in Victoria, places that were visited by someone who may have been infectious with the virus:
Have you been to a business not following COVID-safe rules?
We were inundated with responses from our Melbourne readers yesterday saying they had been to businesses not taking contact details, or following social distancing rules when retail and hospitality was allowed to welcome customers back for the first time.
The Age observed patrons at one inner-north pub sitting at different tables in a small outdoor area on the footpath, with the backs of their chairs touching each other. What has been your experience since Melbourne reopened for business yesterday?
Melbourne's contact tracing system up to tacking any flare-ups of new cases: epidemiologist
As Melbourne reopens and people flock to cafes and shops, Deakin University epidemiology chair Catherine Bennett has said the state's contact tracing system is equipped to handle any flare-ups of new cases.
"Our on-the-ground system, particularly with following up not just the contacts of cases, but their contacts as well, has proven itself in these last outbreaks, not just in Melbourne but also in regional Victoria, where we do already have a lower level of restrictions," she told ABC's News Breakfast.
“You just test routinely, you build it into your existing systems,” says Professor Catherine Bennett, chair of epidemiology at Deakin University.Credit:Jason South
She said the low number of mystery cases (infections that cannot be traced to a known cluster) detected in Melbourne over the past fortnight were a good sign.
"I think those low mystery case numbers are also reassuring for our contact system generally," she said.
Professor Bennett said it was "really good" to see some life coming back into Melbourne's retail and cafe scene.
"As a Melburnian, my heart sung when I saw people sitting at cafes yesterday evening as I drove across town," she said. "And I think people were being very responsible."
Testing crucial as NSW virus cases keep 'rumbling along': Deputy CHO
By Mary Ward
NSW Deputy Chief Health Officer Jeremy McAnulty says the state should be prepared for virus cases to keep "rumbling along" for a number of weeks.
On Thursday, NSW is expected to announce at least one person has tested positive for coronavirus while not in self-isolation after a number of venue alerts were announced and Malek Fahd Islamic School confirmed one of their students had tested positive.
"The important message for all people who are affected is to watch very closely for those symptoms and come forward for testing right away," Dr McAnulty said of the alerts, which are locations in south-west Sydney and the eastern suburbs. (The list of new locations can be found in the blog post from 6.56am AEST)
Dr McAnulty said health authorities suspected the virus existed in low levels in a number of parts of Sydney, notably the far western suburbs, south-west and east.
"We do have to get used to this: in the next coming weeks, and perhaps for a longer time than that, we will have cases rumbling along," he said.
Victoria must adopt QR system as it opens up: MJA editor
By Mary Ward
The editor of the Medical Journal of Australia says Victoria must bring in a QR code system for keeping track of attendees at cafes and restaurants as the state opens up.
Speaking to Ben Fordham on 2GB, Professor Nick Talley said he wishes Victoria had created some sort of government-standard sign-in method "a little earlier", but he was "sure they're going to come to the party".
"Anything that maximises contact tracing success, we just need to embrace – it's as simple as that," he said.
QR codes can be scanned on devices like smartphones and smart watches.Credit:Dion Georgopoulos
In NSW, there is a government-issued QR check-in system which can be used by cafes and restaurants, although many use their own. The state government has recently considered making its system compulsory.
Professor Talley noted Victoria's contact tracing was now excellent but, as the state's residents were allowed to travel to more places,
"We need to have this data because if there's an outbreak we need to squash it as quickly as possible."
Italy confirms record daily increase of 25,000 cases
Italy reached a new daily record of nearly 25,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and added 205 deaths on Wednesday.
Nearly 1000 people were admitted to hospitals nationwide and 125 more in intensive care.
Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese briefed the Senate on protests following Italy’s latest anti-virus restrictions, which shuttered restaurants and bars at nightfall, closed movie theatres and in some regions imposed overnight curfews.
Tighter restrictions in Italy have triggered protests in Rome.Credit:AP
While daytime protests by restaurant owners and taxi drivers have been largely peaceful, Lamorgese accused a variety of fringe anti-government and virus-negating groups of using the crisis as an excuse for violence, vandalism and looting.
Italy has nearly 590,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and nearly 38,000 deaths, the second highest in Europe after Britain.
Meanwhile, fresh lockdown measures have been announced in Germany and France (see 7.15am AEDT)
AP
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2020-10-28 22:03:00Z
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