No new COVID cases detected out west two days after virus detected in sewage

This news comes two days after COVID fragments were detected in samples taken from the Mudgee sewage treatment plant and Dubbo sewage treatment plant.

These followed the detection of virus fragments in samples taken from the Mudgee sewage treatment plant on Monday, August 2.

Further samples are expected to be taken at both Mudgee and Dubbo next week.

As a result, pop-up testing sites were established at the Australian Rural Education Centre in Mudgee and the Rylstone and Gulgong Showgrounds this week.

Resources were also increased at the drive-through testing site at the Dubbo Showground.

Up to 12pm on Friday, almost 1,300 tests were completed at those testing sites.

The WNSWLHD said that in most cases, people would receive their results within 72 hours. If people are waiting longer than 72 hours for results, you are asked to contact their public health team between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday on 1300 066 055.

Up to 8pm Thursday night, there had been 38,110 tests conducted in the WNSWLHD in the last four weeks.

A spokesman for the health district added: "On Thursday, the Commonwealth Government announced that NSW will receive an additional 180,000 Pfizer doses over the next two weeks.

"That will allow NSW Health to reinstate bookings affected by the recent reallocation of doses to year 12 students in south west and western Sydney.

"WNSWLHD's vaccination team is working through the implications of that announcement including how many additional Pfizer doses will be redirected to our district.

"At this stage, those additional supplies are expected to come into our District around August 16.

"People whose bookings were recently cancelled will be rebooked as a priority to ensure they are the first to receive the new doses.

"Supplies of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca to GPs, Aboriginal Medical Services, respiratory clinics and participating pharmacies are unaffected. Both Pfizer and AstraZeneca are safe, effective vaccines."

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