More positive wastewater as three COVID-19 cases identified in Cairns quarantine

Three new overseas-acquired cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Cairns.

All three of these cases are linked.

In a statement, the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) said the people, who arrived in Cairns from PNG on the weekend, were in a quarantine hotel when they were tested and have since been transferred to Cairns Hospital, where they will remain in isolation until they are no longer infectious to others.

“Tropical Public Health Services is following up all contacts.

“These latest cases show that the quarantine hotel system is working.”

It comes after a COVID-19 detection at Southern Cairns Wastewater Treatment Plant in samples taken on 24 February.

The wastewater plant services parts of Mt Sheridan, parts of White Rock, Westcourt, Bungalow, Portsmith to Fearnley St, Manunda, Manoora and suburbs in between.

“This result is not linked to the new overseas-acquired COVID cases, as the sample was taken before these people arrived in Far North Queensland,” the CHHHS statement said.

“The result is of some concern, as it indicates that there could be a case(s) in the catchment area at present or when the sample was taken.”

Cairns has recorded several positive wastewater samples in the last few months, most from the Cairns North wastewater system, which encompasses hotel quarantine facilities and the Cairns Hospital. There has not been a detection for almost a month.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said anyone with symptoms, no matter how mild, should come forward and get tested.

"Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting, and loss of taste or smell," Dr Young said.

 "It is very important people with symptoms come forward right away and get tested – now more than ever – with the new cases we are seeing in other states and the amount of interstate travel that we've seen over the past while.

"We are concerned by the new variants that are emerging overseas that are more contagious than previous variants we have seen in Queensland.

"It's also possible that this detection relates to previous COVID-19 cases that can shed viral fragments for a couple of months after they are no longer infectious."

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