Wastewater detection in Bendigo a cause for ongoing concern

COVID-19 viral fragments have been detected in wastewater samples taken from Bendigo, in an area that includes East Bendigo, Wellsford, Strathdale, Kennington, Strathfieldsaye and Junortoun. The period of interest is September 21-23.

The detection could be an undiscovered new case or cases, or they could be the result of one or more people in these areas who have recovered from COVID-19 but are still shedding the virus.

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The state government says anyone who lives in, works in or has visited the areas above should watch for the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms and get tested as soon as possible if symptoms develop.

Victoria recorded 705 new COVID-19 cases, four of them in the Macedon Ranges, while sadly one person died from coronavirus in the 24 hours to midnight yesterday.

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It is the lowest daily total of new cases since last Tuesday when the state first broke the 700-cases-a-day mark, while another 29,657 people received a vaccination.

Two more tier one exposure sites have been added across central Victoria, at Romsey's Parkwood Green Medical Centre, (Tuesday, September 21, between 1:30pm - 2:50pm) and Riddells Creek's Spices & Pestle, ( Tuesday, September 21, between 5:30pm - 7:45pm).

Both these locations have been deemed tier one exposure sites.

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Anyone who has visited either location during these times must get tested immediately and must also quarantine for 14 days from the exposure.

The four new COVID-19 cases in the Macedon Ranges are all connected to known cases.

The government has also confirmed its series of "vaccinated economy" trials to begin across some regional Victorian businesses from October 11.

Select businesses in Greater Bendigo, Buloke, Pyrenees, Bass Coast, East Gippsland and Warrnambool will test systems in the fortnight before Victoria is due to hit the 70 per cent double dose vaccination mark.

The 20 trial sites will be selected based on vaccination rates and case numbers.

Among the issues to be explored during the 14-day trial are vaccine status verification and how to help businesses safely deal with aggressive customers denied service.

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