Residents and recent visitors to Tarneit, Werribee and Hoppers Crossing have been urged to get tested even if mild COVID-19 symptoms develop after viral fragments were detected on February 25.The health department released the urgent alert on Monday evening after independent testing confirmed the result from a sample taken in the inlet to the Werribee wastewater treatment plant.“Viral fragments were found in a wastewater sample collected on February 25 with no known people in the area who have recently had COVID-19,” the department said.“Anyone who has any symptoms of COVID-19 is urged to get tested, especially if you live in or have visited these areas from February 23.”It comes after viral fragments were also found in wastewater at the Lilydale treatment plant in Melbourne’s outer east on February 25 – another area with no known COVID-19 cases.Residents and recent visitors to Lilydale, Chirnside Park, Coldstream, Kalorama, Olinda, Montrose, Mt Dandenong, Mt Evelyn, Yarra Glen and Yering since February 23 with even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms are also being urged to get tested.The health department also revealed a weak detection of viral fragments in wastewater in Melbourne’s outer west on Saturday.The catchment includes Taylors Hill, Plumpton, Hillside, Sydenham, Delahey, Caroline Springs, Burnside Heights, Kings Park, Albanvale, Burnside and Deer Park, with anyone who has been in these suburbs and has symptoms from February 20 to 22 urged to get tested.Victoria has eased COVID-19 restrictions as of midnight – returning to the levels experienced over the summer holidays before New Year’s Eve.Wastewater monitoring is undertaken at 142 locations across Victoria, including 71 wastewater treatment plants and 71 sites within Melbourne metropolitan sewerage networks.“Fragments of the virus detected in wastewater may be due to a person with COVID-19 being in the early active infectious phase or it could be because someone is continuing to shed the virus after the early infectious period,” the health department said.There are 10 active coronavirus cases in Victoria after zero new cases were announced on Tuesday.jack.paynter@news.com.au
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